26.7.09

INS Arihant

The Indian Navy is all set to join the global elite club today when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally launches the indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant at the naval dockyard of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in Visakhapatnam. Prime Minister will arrive at the ENC’s airbase INS Dega in Visakhapatnam by a special IAF plane along with his wife at 11 am and drive straight to the naval dockyard to commission INS Arihant. The 6000-tonne submarine will first be put on sea trials for two years before being commissioned into full service. In these two years, the submarine will also undergo harbour trials of its nuclear reactor and other systems. Sunday’s launch coincides with Vijay Diwas marking India’s triumph over Pakistani intruders in Kargil. With the launch of the submarine India will join the exclusive club of US, Russia, China, France and the UK with similar capabilities. The ENC headquarters in Visakhapatnam has been decked up for this historic event. INS Arihant has been built under the advanced technology vessels (ATV) programme at a cost of USD 2.9 billion.

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