25.02.2010
First Indian nuclear-powered submarine Arihant has started sea trials, informs Deccan Herald. The sub was launched in July 2009 and started first trials at year-end. Arihant will be tested through the whole year; afterwards she will be commissioned into Indian Navy.
It was reported in Dec 2009 that
Arihant would be completed and commissioned within nearest two years. Indian nuclear-powered sub is designed on the basis of Soviet Project 670
Skat submarine. Presumably, displacement of Indian SSBN will be 6,000 tons and hull length will be 110 meters. The sub will be armed with six 533-mm torpedo tubes and 12 tubes for SLBM
K-15 Sagarika.
It was said early Feb 2010 that Russian Project 971U
Schuka-B nuclear-powered submarine
K-152 Nerpa will be leased to Indian Navy by the end of June 2010 for the term of 10 years. In India
Nerpa will obtain the name of
Chakra and be used as a training base for future crews of Indian-made subs.
Source: , photo: Arihant (erodov.com)
