India’s first nuclear submarine set for trials

India’s first nuclear submarine set for trials

Thu Aug 9, 2012 8:1PM GMT

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Sanjay Sethi, Press TV, New Delhi

With the induction of the Indian INS Arihant submarine, India has become a member of nations capable of deploying nuclear-powered submarines. Completing nuclear trials, New Delhi’s clearly indicating their intentions in the Indian Ocean Region.

Within the next few months India will be commissioning its first nuclear powered submarine capable of launching nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. 6,000 tonne INS Arihant.

In April the Indian navy inducted INS Chakra a nuclear-propelled, hunter-killer submarine This has been leased for 10 years from Russia at a cost of $ 920 million, 
the 12,000 tonne class submarine is capable of firing missiles with a range of 5,000 km. 

Built also on a Russian model, the Arihant is currently undergoing its final tests at Vizag port on its eastern coast it is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor, which is fuelled by enriched uranium, once competed, it will provide India the three-tiered 
retaliatory nuclear deterrence based on firing weapons from air, land and sea-based platforms. 

The Indian navy believes it needs to beef up it's navy as it has a propriety over the Indian ocean and claims it is the only country after which an ocean has been named. About 70 to 80 % of the world ships pass through this region and it would like to see itself as a protector of these sea lines. 

India feels it needs to assert itself and have a stronger naval presence in the region ,it has plans to have 162 ships by 2022 and will have to do so without offending the Chinese who already have a huge naval presence in the area and are the second largest consumers of oil in the world with their ships passing through the straits of malacca. 

The Americans have been holding naval exercises with India for the last few years along the Indian coast line, though they want to increase their presence in the region however India has been hesitant as it does not want the Indian ocean to become a region of hostility that would further increase tensions in the region. 

Naval plans may look promising , however in the past New Delhi's defense and political establishment has come under intense scrutiny after a series of bureaucratic delays, inability to take decisions on time, corruption and other allegations.

 

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