Indigenous N-submarine in 2 years: Navy chief

India's first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, will be inducted into the Navy fleet in two years.

"INS Arihant will be inducted into the Navy in two years or so," Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters here ahead of the Navy Day on December 4.

However, talking to media persons in New Delhi ahead of the Navy Day on December 4,Verma refused to speak about Russia leasing out its Akula-II 'Nerpa' nuclear-powered submarine to India for 10 years.

Arihant, the first submarine under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme, was launched for sea trials on July 26 this year at a naval yard in Visakhapatnam by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gurcharan Kaur.

"It (Arihant) demonstrates a quantum leap in the shipbuilding capabilities of the country. It is a nuclear-powered submarine, which is indigenously designed and constructed," Verma said.

The endurance of the submarine was only limited by the endurance of the crew, food and provisions that it could carry, he said.

The submarine is now undergoing wide-ranging trials in harbour to prove that the various systems fitted on board perform as per their design. This would be followed by extensive sea trials before it is commissioned into the Navy.

India had made its entry into a group of select nations such as the US, Russia, France, United Kingdom and China by launching the 112-metre-long Arihant.

The submarine will ultimately enable India to achieve its long cherished dream of completing a nuclear triad -- the ability to fire nuclear missiles from surface, air and undersea platforms.

The 6000-tonne submarine is powered by an 85 megawatt capacity nuclear reactor and can acquire surface speeds of 22 to 28 kmph (12-15 knots) and submerged speed upto 44 mph (24 knots). It will be carrying a crew of 95 men and will be armed with torpedoes and missiles including 12 ballistic missiles.

Four more nuclear-powered submarine of this class have already got government's nod and these would add to the Navy's underwater combat potential in the years to come.

The Russian made Akula-II submarine is required by India to train its personnel on operating a nuclear-powered underwater vessel.

The Nerpa, which India is likely to get from Russia soon, had suffered an explosion on board when it was taken out for sea trials by Russia late last year. After repairs, it is currently undergoing sea trials.

To a question on the Navy issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for more submarines last year, Verma said it was the second line of submarines to follow the six Scorpene submarines being built with French help in Mazagon Docks under the 30-year submarine fleet plan.

He said the RFI stage for the submarines was over and an officer from Defence Production Department was shortlisting the information from shipbuilders.