Nuclear Submarines of India & World
Nuclear submarines are the major submarine weopon of the sea, India's INS Arihant have been finally all settled to make its maiden foray into the wide-open sea. The 6,000 tonne vessel, with an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor at its core for propulsion, is slated to begin its sea trials off Visakhapatnam within the next few days.
INS Arihant, or the annihilator of enemies, and its two under-construction follow-on vessels are the critical missing links in the country’s long-standing pursuit for an operational nuclear weapons triad – the capacity to fire nukes from land, air and sea. While the Agni ballistic missiles and fighter-bombers constitute the first two legs, the triad’s missing underwater leg has for long troubled the country’s strategic establishment.
Nuclear powered submarines armed with nuclear tripped ballistic missiles (SSBN’s), after all, are considered the triad’s most difficult to detect and effective leg. There is also growing concern over China stepping up its submarine activity in the Indian Ocean.
See Also: Know Some Facts about ISRO’s heaviest Rocket GSLV Mark-III
The Saga Of Country’s
Missing Leg of The Nuclear Triad
Nuclear submarines, armed with nuclear tripped missiles, are considered to be the most potent nuke delivery platforms.
Nuclear submarines can continuously operate underwater at long ranges for months on end conversely, conventional diesel electric submarines need to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge batteries and have limited fuel endurance.
Nuclear Submarine Club
US has over 70 nuclear submarines, Russia around 30 sub marines, with UK and France having 10-12 each, China has 5 Nuclear submarines (plus 51 conventional). But will soon induct 5 JIN-class nuclear submarines with 7,400 km range JL-2 missiles.
India has 13 aging conventional submarines. It has one nuclear submarine INS Chakra on lease from Russia but its not armed with nuclear missiles.
India’s Hunt for Nuclear Submarines
1970s: India begins hunt for nuclear submarines, with Indira Gandhi asking BARC, DRDO & others to work towards building such vessels
Late 1990s: Actual construction of submarines begins under the secret advanced technology Vessel (ATV) project
July 26, 2009: First 6,000-tonne ATV named INS Arihant launched into water at shipbuilding center at Vizag. Harbor trials on shore based steam begin
Aug 10, 2013: INS Arihant 83 MW nuclear reactor goes critical finally
Dec 2014: INS Arihant set to go for sea trials. Will take around 18 months and include test fir
Know Some Facts About Nuclear Submarines Club
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