With first nuclear submarine INS Arihant set for sea trials, Navy wants more for strategic deterrence

The Navy is all gung-ho about the country's first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant, declaring it will soon head for sea trials, complete the "nuclear weapons triad" and live up to its name "annihilator of enemies".

"We expect INS Arihant to finish its harbour trials in a few weeks, a month or so, and then head for sea trials. All its capabilities will be tested as the third leg of the triad, the sea-based strategic deterrence, which will include firing of its ballistic missiles," said assistant chief of naval staff (submarines) Rear Admiral LVS Babu on Tuesday.

This confidence about finally achieving its dream of deploying a nuclear-powered submarine armed with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles — called a SSBN in military parlance — is reflected in the naval Republic Day tableau this year. It depicts models of INS Arihant and a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

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