Antony commissions India’s fi rst N-powered submarine

VISAKHAPATTINAM: Union Defence Minister A K Antony today Commissioned India’s fi rst nuclear powered attack submarine’ INS Chakra’ in the ship building complex of the naval dockyard here. Speaking after Commissioning the submarine, he said this was a major milestone in Indian navy. India has joined the elite league of nuclear submarine owning countries, the others being the U.S., Russia, the U.K France and China. INS Chakra is the new name for the Russian-built Nerpa, which was brought here on a ten-year lease for giving a boost to India’s underwater warfare capability, at an estimated cost of $920 million. ‘INS Chakra’ is also considered one of the stealthiest nuclear submarines in the world. With its induction, Indian navy would be operating a nuclear submarine after two decades. A projection of India’s growing power in the region, the submarine will give the country sea denial capabilities, he said. Even though the vessel is not equipped with nuclear weapons, it would provide experience to our navy in the operation of similar platforms with indigenous nuclear submarine programme, ‘INS Arihant’ was inching closer towards completion. ‘INS Arihant’ will complete India’s capability of delivering nuclear weapons by air, land and water. The nuclear submarine is in sync with Indian nuclear policy of “no fi rst use, he said.