Sea trials of the first indigenously designed and built nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant will start within a few weeks after completion of harbour acceptance trials at the submarine base in Visakhapatnam.
The sea trials will include testing the capability to launch ballistic missile from under water besides entire functions of the nuclear reactor. Stating this here on Tuesday, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff(submarine) Rear Admiral lVS Babu said at present harbour trials are in the terminal stage and there are “no hiccups.” Given this position, the Navy is confident of commencing the critical sea trials within a few weeks or a month, he said adding the submarine will be put through the entire gamut of tests.
When asked if the ballistic missile capability will also be tested, the Navy official answered in affirmative and said the nuclear reactor of the submarine which went critical in August last year will also be put through the paces. He said with the commencement of sea trials expected to last till year end, India will have an effective nuclear triad in place. This means India will have the capability to launch nuclear missiles from land, air and under water. Incidentally, the Naval tableau for this year’s Republic Day parade at Rajpath will have a model of Arihant.
As regards INS Chakra, the nuclear powered submarine acquired from Russia on a ten year lease and inducted into the Navy two years back, Babu said this attack submarine is now fully integrated. He also said its induction has enhanced India’s prowess to guard its maritime interests, including strategically important Indian Ocean.