New Delhi: India`s first indigenous
nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, will be inducted into the Navy
fleet in two years.
"INS Arihant will be inducted into the Navy in two
years or so," Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters
here ahead of the Navy Day on December 4.
However, Verma refused speak about Russia leasing out
its Akula-II `Nerpa` nuclear-powered submarine to India for 10
years. "I have no response for that," he said to queries on
when Nerpa would join the Indian Navy.
Arihant, the first submarine under the Advanced
Technology Vessel (ATV) programme, was launched for sea trials
on July 26 this year at a naval yard in Visakhapatnam by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh`s wife Gurcharan Kaur.
"It (Arihant) demonstrates a quantum leap in the
shipbuilding capabilities of the country. It is a nuclear-
powered submarine, which is indigenously designed and
constructed," Verma said.
The endurance of the submarine was only limited by the
endurance of the crew, food and provisions that it could
carry, he said.
The submarine is now undergoing wide-ranging trials in
harbour to prove that the various systems fitted on board
perform as per their design. This would be followed by
extensive sea trials before it is commissioned into the Navy.
India had made its entry into a group of select
nations such as the US, Russia, France, United Kingdom and
China by launching the 112-metre-long Arihant.
The submarine will ultimately enable India to achieve
its long cherished dream of completing a nuclear triad -- the
ability to fire nuclear missiles from surface, air and
undersea platforms.
The 6000-tonne submarine is powered by an 85 megawatt
capacity nuclear reactor and can acquire surface speeds of 22
to 28 kmph (12-15 knots) and submerged speed upto 44 kmph (24
knots). It will be carrying a crew of 95 men and will be armed
with torpedoes and missiles including 12 ballistic missiles.
Four more nuclear-powered submarine of this class have
already got government`s nod and these would add to the Navy`s
underwater combat potential in the years to come.
The Russian made Akula-II submarine is required by
India to train its personnel on operating a nuclear-powered
underwater vessel.
The Nerpa, which India is likely to get from Russia
soon, had suffered an explosion on board when it was taken out
for sea trials by Russia late last year. After repairs, it is
currently undergoing sea trials.
To a question on the Navy issuing a Request for
Information (RFI) for more submarines last year, Verma said it
was the second line of submarines to follow the six Scorpene
submarines being built with French help in Mazagon Docks under
the 30-year submarine fleet plan.
He said the RFI stage for the submarines was over and
an officer from Defence Production Department was shortlisting
the information from shipbuilders.
-PTI
