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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 15
India’s indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, the INS Arihant, today sailed out for sea trials from its base in Visakhaptnam on the east coast. The boat, built at the Shipbuilding Centre (SBC) in Vishakhapatnam, was launched in 2009.
The sea trials will eventually include diving trails followed by undersea firing of nuclear-tipped missiles. The 6,000-tonne vessel, which is powered by an 83 Mwe pressurised water reactor, is slated for induction by 2016. Arihant has undergone harbour acceptance trials. The sea trials are expected to last a few months.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was at the Navy facility, when the sea trials commenced this morning.
Once inducted it will complete the nuclear triad, which means attaining the capability to fire nuclear missiles from land, air and sea.
A nuclear submarine is militarily considered to be one of the most potent second-strike platforms for retaliation to a nuclear strike. India has a no-first-use nuclear policy.
Its reactor was developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, with assistance from a Russian design team. It uses enriched uranium as fuel and light water as coolant and moderator. The submarine has nearly 60 per cent local content.
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