Second nuke sub to boost naval might
Visakhapatnam: India’s naval warfare capability will get one of its biggest boosts in decades when the 8,000-ton Russian-origian nuclear-powered attack submarine INS Chakra is formally inducted into the navy here today (Wednesday).
The submarine would operate with the Indian Navy for 10 years and provide India’s sea warfare a thumping capability – not just as an attack and weapons platform, but would also serve as a laboratory for researchers to study the technology of nuclear submarine warfare.
With the induction, India will becomes only the sixth nation in the elite club of nations with nuclear-powered submarines that can remain underwater for several months unlike diesel-powered boats that have to surface at regular intervals.
The other nations with nuclear-powered submarines are the US, Russia, France, Britain and China. India had operated a Soviet Charlie class nuclear submarine from 1988 but this was later returned.
India’s indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant is also expected to start operational patrols soon, officials said. “Arihant is at an advanced stage and will be joining soon — maybe in months,” an official in know of the development said.
That would mean that India will have two nuclear submarines guarding its long maritime boundaries.
Category: India
About the Author (Author Profile)
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Loading ...
Exchange Rate
Comments (1)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
Sites That Link to this Post