Walchandnagar Industries is involved in India’s nuclear-capable Agni missiles and has supplied “critical” equipment for India’s first indigenous nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arihant.
Nuclear weapons
Walchandnagar Industries Limited (WIL) states it is “engaged in inherently sensitive and secretive missile, aerospace and nuclear programs of national importance.”[i] It has developed various processes, including welding technology, for manufacture of motor cases for Agni nuclear-capable missiles and has executed launcher projects with associated hydraulics and control systems for the Agni programme.[ii] WIL is also involved in the Agni V missile, which is nearing deployment.[iii]
Walchandnagar also states it supplied “critical equipment” for India’s first indigenous nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arihant.[iv] Sources indicate that the Arihant will primarily serve as a training vessel and technology demonstrator and will not be deployed for nuclear deterrence patrols as additional SSBNs come online.[v] A second SSBN, the INS Arighat, was commissioned into service in August 2024 and a third submarine, the S4, was reportedly launched in November 2021.[vi] India is also developing the S5 class submarine.[vii]
[i] ‘Corporate presentation’, WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (2024), p. 8. Available at: WIL Reg 30 corporate presentation.pdf.
[ii] Ibid, p. 13. See also ‘DEFENSE, AEROSPACE, MISSILES’, WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (2015). Available at: https://walchand.com/download.php?flp=https://walchand.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WIL-Brochure-Defence-Aerospace-Missile-Reduced.pdf.
[iii] ‘Corporate presentation’, WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (2024), p. 15. Available at: WIL Reg 30 corporate presentation.pdf; Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns and Mackenzie Knight, ‘Indian Nuclear Weapons, 2024’, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 80:5, 326-342, p. 331-333. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2024.2388470.
[iv] ‘Corporate Presentation’, Walchannagar Industries (2012), p. 18. Available at: Microsoft PowerPoint - WIL Corporate_Presentation_2012 (walchand.com).
[v] Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns and Mackenzie Knight, ‘Indian Nuclear Weapons, 2024’, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 80:5, 326-342, p. 334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2024.2388470.
[vi] Ibid, pp. 334-335.
[vii] Ibid, p. 335; Richard Sterk. ‘India Levels Up in Nuclear Submarines’. Defense Security Monitor, 1 May 2023. Available at: https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2023/05/01/india-levels-up-in-undersea-nuclear-submarines/.