India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine INS Arihant (slayer of enemies) is likely to be commissioned and showcased to the world during the International Fleet Review (IFR) to be held here from February 4. Sources in the Navy say that INS Arihant, which is nicknamed as the mini-boomer, and built by Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam is nearing completion of its sea acceptance trails and will now proceed for the weapons trial.
A senior naval officer on anonymity has said that INS Arihant will be handed over to the Indian Navy during the IFR-2016 as both President and the Prime Minister will be present, and an ensemble of navies from across the globe will be there.
According to the officer, India holds the distinction of being the fifth country in the world to build a nuclear-powered submarine, after USA, Russia, UK, France and China.
The Akula-class submarine was launched on July 26, 2009, on the occasion of the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War) by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur.
After its launch, Arihant went through extensive harbour tests and it will be the first to roll out in the pack of five.
Sources also say that if the final reports are favourable, then INS Arihant will be centre of attraction in the IFR-2016, as the world is awaiting its arrival with bated-breath.
The vessel is believed to be powered by an 83 megawatts pressurised light-water reactor with enriched uranium fuel and has four vertical missile launch tubes that can launch submarine-launched ballistic missiles such as K-15 or the K-4 missiles, indigenously developed by DRDO, from underwater.
