NEW DELHI, INDIA: India said its first home-built nuclear submarine was set for sea trials, as it detailed billion-dollar projects to arm its navy with warships, aircraft and modern weaponry. The indigenous 6,000 tonne INS Arihant (Destroyer of Enemies) was unveiled in 2009 as part of a project to construct five such vessels which would be armed with nuclear-tipped missiles and torpedoes.
“Arihant is steadily progressing towards operationalisation, and we hope to commence sea trials in the coming months. Our maritime and nuclear doctrine will then be aligned to ensure that our nuclear insurance comes from the sea. Arihant is powered by an 85-megawatt nuclear reactor and can reach 44 kilometre an hour (24 knots). It will carry a 95-member crew,” said Nirmal Verma, Indian Navy Chief Admiral.
The Indian Navy inducted a Russian-leased nuclear submarine into service in April 2012, joining China, France, the United States, Britain and Russia in the elite club of countries with nuclear-powered vessels. According to Verma, 43 warships were currently under construction at local shipyards while the first of six Franco-Spanish Scorpene submarines under contract would join the Indian navy in 2015 and the sixth by 2018.
© Hindustan Times News