India plans trials of first nuclear sub: officials

[SwordFish_13]

Hi,

NEW DELHI (AFP) — India is set to begin sea trials of its first nuclear-powered submarine later this month, joining an elite club that includes neighbouring giant China, defence ministry officials said Monday.

The Indian-developed submarine, which would provide the South Asian nation with an underwater ballistic missile launch capability, will begin trials in the Bay of Bengal, off the southern Indian city of Vishakapatnam.

"This will be the start of a series of strenuous trials which will continue for several months," said one official who declined to be named.

The induction of the 7,000-ton vessel will put India alongside Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States in the club of nations with nuclear-powered submarines.

The Press Trust of India, quoting unnamed sources, reported the submarine will carry a ballistic missile system first tested in February 2008, but ministry officials declined to confirm or deny the report.

The submarine is the first in a planned fleet of five.

Domestic media last month quoted Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy chief of Russia's federal service for military-technical cooperation, as saying Moscow had agreed to lease a 12,000-ton Akula class nuclear submarine to India.

India is also in the final stages of negotiations for a refurbished Russian aircraft carrier. The vessel, Admiral Gorshkov, is scheduled to be delivered for sea trials by 2012.

New Delhi has also signed contracts worth 2.4 billion euros (three billion dollars) with Armaris and European defence firm MBDA to acquire six Franco-Spanish Scorpene submarines.

Peace
-=SF_13=-

 

[Zastava-Arms]

Good old India, they have one truly badass army.


Su-30MKI for the win

 

[SwordFish_13]

Hi,

India will mark its entry into an elite club on Sunday (July 26) with the launch of its first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant. INA Arihant's launch will be a big step towards India's endeavour to build a 'credible nuclear weapon triad' - the capability to fire nukes from air, land and sea. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gurusharan Kaur will launch the submarine at the Vishakapatnam port in the presence of top Defence and Navy officials.

Said to be built under the Advanced Technology Vessels (ATV) Programme at a cost of USD 2.9 billion at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, the 6,000-tonne submarine will be put on sea trials for two years before being commissioned into full service. During this period, the submarine will also undergo harbour trials of its nuclear reactor and other systems, the sources said.

India had previously used a leased Russian-built nuclear submarine INS Chakra from January 1988 to January 1991.

With the launch of the indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine, India will join the exclusive club of US, Russia, China, France and the UK with similar capabilities.

The ATV, developed jointly by the Navy and the DRDO, will give India the additional power of a nuclear weapon strike from the sea, apart from surface and air which it currently possesses.

According to sources, the nuclear reactor of the submarine has been developed at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam.

Peace
-=SF_13=-

 

[SwordFish_13]

India launches nuclear submarine

Hi,

Source: BBC

India has launched its first nuclear-powered submarine, becoming only the sixth country in the world to do so.

The 6,000 tonne Arihant was launched by India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a ceremony on the south-east coast.

It was built entirely in India with Russian assistance and a second one is due to be constructed shortly.

It will undergo trials over the next few years before being deployed and will be able to launch missiles at targets 700km (437 miles) away.

Until now, only the US, Russia, France, Britain and China had the capability to build nuclear submarines.

'China threat'

Launching the INS Arihant, Mr Singh said India had no aggressive designs on anyone.

Indian workers (L) paint the conning tower of the INS Kursura, on display as a part of the INS Kurusura Submarine Museum, at Rama Krishna Beach in Visakhapatnam, some 800 kilometers from Hyderabad, on July 25, 2009.
India has relied mainly on Russian-built submarines until now

But the sea was becoming increasingly relevant to India's security concerns, he added.

"It is incumbent upon us to take all measures necessary to safeguard our country and to keep pace with technological advancements worldwide," he told the ceremony in the port city of Visakhapatnam.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says until now India has been able to launch ballistic missiles only from the air and from land.

Nuclear submarines will add a third dimension to its defence capability.

When it is eventually deployed, the top-secret Arihant will be able to carry 100 sailors on board.

It will be able to stay under water for long periods and thereby increase its chances of remaining undetected.

By contrast, India's ageing conventional diesel-powered submarines need to constantly surface to recharge their batteries.

Our correspondent says the launching of the Arihant is a clear sign that India is looking to blunt the threat from China which has a major naval presence in the region.

Peace
-=SF_13=-