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India-Pakistan | |||
IndiaÂ’s First Nuclear Submarine Set for Trials | |||
2012-08-14 | |||
NEW DELHI — 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.
“Arihant is steadily progressing towards operationalization, and we hope to commence sea trials in the coming months,” Indian navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters. “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 kilometers an hour (24 knots), according to defense officials. It will carry a 95-member crew. The Indian navy inducted a Russian-leased nuclear submarine into service in April this year, joining China, France, the United States, Britain and Russia in the elite club of countries with nuclear-powered vessels. Verma said 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.
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Posted by:Steve White |