India's First Nuclear-Armed Submarine Is Completing Its Final Trials

INS Arihant during sea trials, December 2014 NDTV/Wikimedia Commons

Samuel Osborne, Independent: INS Arihant: India nears completion of nuclear submarine 'Slayer of Enemies' - so what does it mean for the world?

The submarine will complete India's nuclear triad, allowing it to launch atomic weapons from land, sea and air

India is conducting the final trials of its first nuclear-armed submarine, which would make it the sixth country in the world to possess a vessel capable of launching nuclear warheads from underwater.

When deployed, the submarine will complete India's nuclear triad - allowing it to launch atomic weapons from land, sea and air.

What is the INS Arihant?

The 6,000-ton, 110-metre-long INS Arihant (the Sanskrit name meaning "Slayer of Enemies") has been developed over the last three decades under a secret government program.

First sanctioned in 1970, the project was approved in 1984 and work began in 1998.

It is currently completing its final trials in the Bay of Bengal, having passed several deep sea diving drills as well as weapons tests over the past five months, an official told The Economic Times.

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WNU Editor: This is a huge advance for India's nuclear forces.