INS Arihant undergoing sea acceptance trails: Top official

Visakhapatnam: Country's first armed nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, is currently undergoing sea acceptance trails, a senior Naval official said on Sunday.

INS Arihant is now undergoing sea acceptance trails as it had already passed several deep sea diving drills, Flag Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral HCS Bisht told reporters here.

"The submarine will be commissioned after completing all the sea-trials," he added.

INS Arihant, a 6,000-tonne submarine, is country's first indigenous nuclear submarine and can launch nuclear weapons from underwater.

The vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel Project at the Ship Building Centre here.

Stating that India Navy has presently adequate strength of ships, submarines and manpower, Bisht said 45 ships are under-construction in various shipyards in the country.

The Navy had successfully conducted the International Fleet Review with the support of various agencies including the Andhra Pradesh government and the Vizag district administration, he informed.

To a question, Vice Admiral Bisht said the Indian Navy's warship INS Viraat will be decommissioned this year and it will be converted into a maritime museum.

"After decommissioning the ship will be handed over to the Andhra Pradesh government," he added.

Meanwhile, the local MP, MLAs and several residents sailed on-board the Eastern Fleet ships and witnessed various Naval exercises as part of the 'Day at Sea'.

Eight ships including the indigenous stealth frigate INS Satpura, fleet support ship INS Sakthi, Landing Platform Dock INS Jalashwa, Landing Ship Tank(Large) INS Airavat, Missile Corvettes IN Ships Kanjhar and Nishank, Inshore Support Vessels T-36, T-39 and submarine INS Sindhukirti of the ENC participated in the event, a defence release said.