India launched her first indigenous nuclear powered submarine Arihant on July 26. The submarine designed and constructed in India as Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project since 1970’s has become a reality. ‘Arihant’ means ‘Destroyer of Enemies’.
Some interesting features of indigenous nuclear powered submarine Arihant are:
- was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Ship Building Center, Vishakapatnam naval dockyard.
- is among the five in the class approved by the government for construction.
- the other countries having capabilities to operate nuclear powered submarines are: U.S, Russia, U.K, France and China.
- is jointly developed by Indian Navy, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with Russian assistance.
- the nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)
- is about 110 metres long, 6000 tons, 22 knots speed, 11 metre-wide with complement of around 23 officers and 72 men
- the 80 MW mini-nuclear reactor to power the submarine has been installed
- the K-15 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) for the submarine was tested successfully from an under sea platform on February 26, 2008
- can launch 12 SLBMs, even under ice-cap
- the necessary crew training to operate the submarine, is planned through Russian Akula II submarine expected to join Indian Navy on lease by year end
- the ATV project started making significant progress only after the land-based reactor became fully operational in December 2004 at Kalpakkam, near Chennai.
Arihant is expected to be available for deployment to the Indian Navy after harbour trials and sea trials by 2011.
Here is a photograph from Press Information Bureau.
Smt. Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh breaking the auspicious coconut on the hull of the 6,000 tonne submarine, INS Arihant marking its launch, at Visakhapatnam on July 26, 2009
View some interesting video clips:
- from Times Now: India 6th to have nuclear submarine
- from Videos From India: PM launches India first nuclear submarine
Read more from Press Information Bureau: Press Release 1, Press Release 2.
Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:
Explosion in Tanker Kills 8 Injures 4 at Perama Shipyard Athens
Update: July 27
Even after launching, Arihant photographs are not available in Indian media. Why is it still kept a secret ?
Here is a photograph of a submarine shown in DoorDarshan news report: India joins select group of Nuclear Submarine capable nations as INS Arihant is inducted in Navy
Is this Arihant ?
Readers may comment and clarify.
View some video clips:
- from CCTV, China: India launches 1st nuclear powered submarine – CCTV 072709
- from Times Now: Pak – INS Arihant a destabilising step
Update: July 29
Log on to Trishul, to view ATV Schematics.
Update: August 04
Log on to The Telegraph, to read: Unveiled – Arihant’s elder brother
Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission has stated that the role of Russians is limited to consultancy only in ATV project. View an interesting video clip from NDTV: I’d like to thank our Russian colleagues – Anil Kakodkar
Update: August 09
Read the full text of interview by NDTV’s Science Editor Pallava Bagla with the Chief of India’s Atomic Energy program Dr Anil Kakodkar at Kalpakkam.
Update: August 15
Larsen & Toubro has proudly displayed their role in the construction of Arihant in the leading news papers on the eve of Independence Day.
Their role includes
- Engineering
- Pressure hull construction
- Equipment installation
- Outfitting
- System integration and trials
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