S5-class submarine

An artistic impression of the S5-class submarine
Class overview
Operators	Indian Navy
Preceded by	Arihant class
Planned	4-6 [1]
General characteristics
Type	Nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine
Displacement	13,500 tonnes (13,300 long tons; 14,900 short tons) [1]
Propulsion	1 x CLWR-B2 Compact Light-water reactor [2] [3] 200 MW (270,000 hp) [4] 1 × single shaft pump-jet propulsor
Range	Unlimited
Armament	12-16 VLS cells for [5] [1] K-5 SLBM (5,000–6,000 km or 3,100–3,700 mi range) (or) K6 MIRV SLBM (8,000–9,000 km or 5,000–5,600 mi range)

S5 is the code name for a planned class of Indian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines currently being developed for the Indian Navy. S5 will weigh around twice as much as the preceding Arihant-class submarine. It is expected to start production by 2027. ^[6]

Design

The S5-class of submarines are planned to weigh around 13,500 tonnes (13,300 long tons; 14,900 short tons). ^[7] The submarines are planned to be armed with up to twelve or sixteen K6 Submarine-launched ballistic missiles, each armed with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles. ^{[1] [5]}

Development

The Government of India made an assessment of India's capability to design and construct a class of three new ballistic missile submarines codenamed S5 in 2006 when it was realised that the reactor and payload capacity of the Arihant-class submarines was limited.^{[ citation needed ]} These submarines were initially planned to be operational beginning in 2021 but were delayed. The delay prompted the Indian Government to sanction an additional Arihant-class submarine in 2012 to avoid the production line becoming idle. ^[1]

As of 4 December 2022, the S5-class submarine was to enter production by 2027. ^{[6] [8]}

As of September 2024, the design phase of the submarine was nearing completion and project sanction was expected soon. ^[9]

In September 2025, the Times of India reported that the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing a 200 MWe-rated nuclear reactor for the Indian Navy's next-generation nuclear submarines, including Project 77 and S5-class submarines. ^[10]

See also

• Arihant-class submarine
• Indian Navy SSN programme
• Future of the Indian Navy

References

1. Unnithan, Sandeep (10 December 2017). "A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines". India Today . Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
2. "Founder's Day Speech, Director, BARC" (PDF). Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
3. "DAE (Excellence in Science, Engineering & Technology) Awards 2010" (PDF). BARC Newsletter (322): 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
4. "Bhabha Atomic Research Centre making reactor for Navy's next generation nuclear submarines". The Times of India. 21 September 2025.
5. "India's Undersea Deterrent". Saurav Jha . 30 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
6. "Much improved & bigger 3rd Generation S5 SSBN of the Indian Navy to enter production in 2027". IgMp. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
7. Pandit, Rajat (5 November 2018). "Nuclear submarine INS Arihant completes patrol, country's N-triad operational". The Times of India . Retrieved 19 January 2020.
8. "Amid China standoff, India set to boost naval power with 3rd N-sub in 6 months". The Times of India. 30 August 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 30 August 2024.
9. "India's S5 SSBN to Armed with 12 SLBM Launch Tubes, K5 Missile, and 190 MW Reactor". Defence.in. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
10. "Bhabha Atomic Research Centre making reactor for Navy's next-generation nuclear-submarines". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 20 September 2025.