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Thursday, July 9, 2009

India to launch its first indigenous nuclear submarine

Bangalore: India is all set to launch its first indigenously built nuclear submarine called the Advanced Technology Vehicle Project towards the end of this month. This submarine would be named as INS Chakra after the Charlie class nuclear submarine and will be put in waters of the Bay of Bengal in Visakhapatnam harbor for sea trials.


The government plans to launch the submarine without over-publicity. Earlier, the launching of the submarine was scheduled to be on July 26, but the date has been changed as it happens to be the Kargil Victory Day and the Government has no motive to send any message to the neighbourhood.

The submarine is going to be tested on Indians' eastern seaboard and earlier plans of moving it to Karwar, Goa have been shelved for the time being. The ATV project was launched in mid 1980s and is now headed by the Vice Admiral, B Kanan.

The need for a nuclear submarine was felt by New Delhi as Beijing is moving towards a sea-based doctrine and already has one Xia class and two Jin class nuclear submarines with JL-1 and 2 series submarine-launched nuclear missiles. Each of these submarines carries up to 12 JL-1 or 2 strategic missiles. Even Pakistan has eight tactical submarines that have deep sea diving capability with advanced air propulsion and Harpoon missiles.

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