AFP New Delhi, August 08, 2012
India on Wednesday 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-ton 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," Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=n_27253_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/n_27253_1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Arihant is powered by an 85-megawatt nuclear reactor and can reach 44 kilometres an hour
(24 knots), according to defence officials. It will carry a 95-member crew.
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.
India on Wednesday 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-ton 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," Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=n_27253_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/n_27253_1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Arihant is powered by an 85-megawatt nuclear reactor and can reach 44 kilometres an hour
(24 knots), according to defence officials. It will carry a 95-member crew.
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.
