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INDIA HAS ANNOUNCED its first home-built nuclear submarine is set for sea trials, as it detailed billion-dollar projects to arm its navy with warships, aircraft and modern weaponry.
The indigenous 6,000-ton INS Arihant (Destroyer of Enemies) was unveiled in 2009 as part of a project to construct five such vessels which would be armed with nuclear-tipped missiles and torpedoes.
“Arihant is steadily progressing towards operationalisation, and we hope to commence sea trials in the coming months,” Indian navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters.
“Our maritime and nuclear doctrine will then be aligned to ensure that our nuclear insurance comes from the sea,” Verma said.
Arihant is powered by an 85-megawatt nuclear reactor and can reach 44 kilometres an hour (24 knots), according to defence officials. It will carry a 95-member crew.
The Indian navy inducted a Russian-leased nuclear submarine into service in April this year, joining China, France, the United States, Britain and Russia in the elite club of countries with nuclear-powered vessels.
Verma said 43 warships were currently under construction at local shipyards while the first of six Franco-Spanish Scorpene submarines under contract would join the Indian navy in 2015 and the sixth by 2018.
The admiral said the navy was also poised to induct eight Boeing long-range maritime reconnaissance P-8I aircraft next year.
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It’s a pity that they spend so much on military when their own people are starving. Not just India but other countries too.
And if it breaks down they have to ring customer support in Mumbai who advise them to unplug it, wait 30 seconds then plug it back in again in a highly unintelligible accent
200 million in India are without electricity, including hospitals, as the grid doesnt work properly, but at least they have a Nuclear Sub! Priorities, eh?
43 war ships under construction and we are sending them money for the children in Kolkata.
I think Ireland needs a nuclear submarine. We could put it on the back of a lorry, Drive it round the country and charge people 2 Euro each to look at it. We would make our money back in no time
Oddly enough an Irishman is credited with inventing the submarine.
Self-restraint prevents me from looking it up on the the inter-web. I try will to remember who it was, relying solely on the foggy synapses making the connection’s.
India a country mired in mire and worse. The results of the caste system, prioritising delusions of a clique over alleviating the poverty of millions.
Puts the woes of Ireland woes in perspective.
Something Hunley I think, during the American civil war.
I believe the Irishman who invented one of the first submarines was John Philip Holland. A very interesting man who actually created a sub, the Fenian Ram, for use by the Fenians in their campaign for independence but they got impatient and knicked it. Hilariously, they had no idea how to use it so they just dumped it somewhere. Unfortunately, this led to Holland severing all contact with them. Who knows what would have happened if he had made a fleet for the rebels, it makes for an interesting “what if?”
Seamus it was a chap from Clare called John Holland. During the American Civil war I think. Could they not have been really inventive and made a Vindaloo powered submarine? I know I’ve gone nuclear after a few pints and a Vindaloo! :-)
Indians Wish that they did not have to spend too much on Nuclear subs and others…but the past 200 Years during which it was robbed ,plundered and dragged from the ivory tower , a trading superpower to an enslaved nation by the very Britishers who refer and talk about the Indian poverty very much not realizing the fact that they directly are to be blamed for it….India was a rich nation but was deprived of its assets and turned into a poor enslaved nation by the English…..India will not take any chance …Not this time….Hope English and IRISH realize this and update there little knowledge of Geography and history for there own sake…or risk getting overwhelmed by Indians ….
Ah sure we know a bit about being impoverished by the British ourselves. And don’t you mean ‘their’ limited knowledge?
Their people wallow in their own fifth, they can’t provide reliable electricity for over 600 million people and yet they can waste money on nuclear submarines. Clever
And charities are asking money for starving kids in India! anyways, they don’t need family planning and equal treatment but nuclear missiles and subs…
have your say