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Zeenews Bureau

Vishakapatnam: India's first indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine launched on Sunday will take much longer than the projected two years to become operational, according to naval experts, who say the real big test now is to ensure that the on-board reactor attains criticality.

Noting there is still lots left to do, the experts said scientists had a onerous task to see that the on-board nuclear reactor--the heart of the submarine--attains criticality without any hitches.

Naval officials said INS Arihant (Destroyer of Enemies) codenamed Advanced Technology Vessel(ATV) will undergo two years of sea trials in the Bay of Bengal after which they hope to see the submarine commissioned for full service.

"It is little optimistic only for one reasons because it the first of its class. In the first of the class there are a large number of checks to be carried out. It could take much longer time frame than the two years being projected (for INS Arihant)," said Vice Admiral A K Singh (retd) former Captain of INS Chakra, the Charlie-class nuclear submarine.

The second ATV or the third ATV will definitely come out much faster, Singh said.

C Uday Bhaskar, Director, National Maritime Foundation, said, " I don't think we should overinterpret the capability of the Arihant at this stage because there are many more complex technological steps before the particular nuclear reactor on the Arihant acquires criticality."

Bhaskar said hopefully three to five years down the road India would be a credible naval power because the country would then have the capability to fit the submarine with nuclear propulsion.

Former Naval Chief Admiral (retd) Arun Prakash said a lot of work lies ahead for the country's scientists and engineers. "The big day will however come when the nuclear reactor attains criticality," he said.

India’s Sunday launch of its first indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarine, has placed it in the rarefied category of just 5 nations who possesses the technological know-how for making a nuclear submarine.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on the occasion that the Navy had a major role to play in re-adjusting "our military preparedness".

Underlining that the sea was increasingly relevant in the context of India's security interests, Manmohan Singh said: "We must re-adjust our military preparedness to this changing environment. Our navy has a huge responsibility in this regard."

The Prime Minister spoke at the headquarters of the Indian Navy's Eastern Command here after his wife, Gursharan Kaur, broke a coconut and did a prayer to mark the launch of INS Arihant, a 6,000-tonne, 110-metre long and 11-metre wide submarine that can carry nearly 100 sailors.

India becomes the sixth country after the US, Russia, China, France and Britain to possess a nuclear-powered submarine.

The launch comes 25 years after the project was initiated when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.

Calling Sunday's event a "historic milestone", Manmohan Singh said: "We do not have any aggressive designs nor do we seek to threaten anyone. We seek an external environment in our region, and beyond that is conducive to our peaceful development and the protection of our value systems."

Manmohan Singh said the deep sea strategic capability was necessary in view of the increasing relevance of the sea in the country's security scenario.

The dockyard where the submarine was housed was flooded before the vessel could be tugged out. Officials said it would take two years of sea trials before the vessel is commissioned into the navy.

INS Arihant can stay below the water for indefinite period.

Like all submarines, it is capable of firing missiles and torpedoes. It is fitted with latest weapons and sensors. The steel for the submarine was cut in 1998.

Hailing the achievement, Defence Minister AK Antony said the "present situation in our neighbourhood" demanded greater acquisition of strategic assets.

Manmohan Singh and Antony did not take any country's name. But the biggest navy in Asia is China's. It is known to have 8-10 nuclear-powered submarines and 50-60 diesel-electric submarines.

The INS Arihant project was made successful by the close partnership of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and other public and private sector undertakings.

"Today is the first visible step towards realisation of creating the sea leg of our nuclear triad... It will provide us credible second strike capability," said India's Navy chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

The submarine will increase the reach and endurance of the Indian Navy, which seeks to become a true blue water navy and project its force beyond its borders.

The Russian help in the project was profusely appreciated by the Prime Minister.

Zeenews Bureau

Vishakapatnam: India's first indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine launched on Sunday will take much longer than the projected two years to become operational, according to naval experts, who say the real big test now is to ensure that the on-board reactor attains criticality.

Noting there is still lots left to do, the experts said scientists had a onerous task to see that the on-board nuclear reactor--the heart of the submarine--attains criticality without any hitches.

Naval officials said INS Arihant (Destroyer of Enemies) codenamed Advanced Technology Vessel(ATV) will undergo two years of sea trials in the Bay of Bengal after which they hope to see the submarine commissioned for full service.

"It is little optimistic only for one reasons because it the first of its class. In the first of the class there are a large number of checks to be carried out. It could take much longer time frame than the two years being projected (for INS Arihant)," said Vice Admiral A K Singh (retd) former Captain of INS Chakra, the Charlie-class nuclear submarine.

The second ATV or the third ATV will definitely come out much faster, Singh said.

C Uday Bhaskar, Director, National Maritime Foundation, said, " I don't think we should overinterpret the capability of the Arihant at this stage because there are many more complex technological steps before the particular nuclear reactor on the Arihant acquires criticality."

Bhaskar said hopefully three to five years down the road India would be a credible naval power because the country would then have the capability to fit the submarine with nuclear propulsion.

Former Naval Chief Admiral (retd) Arun Prakash said a lot of work lies ahead for the country's scientists and engineers. "The big day will however come when the nuclear reactor attains criticality," he said.

India’s Sunday launch of its first indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarine, has placed it in the rarefied category of just 5 nations who possesses the technological know-how for making a nuclear submarine.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on the occasion that the Navy had a major role to play in re-adjusting "our military preparedness".

Underlining that the sea was increasingly relevant in the context of India's security interests, Manmohan Singh said: "We must re-adjust our military preparedness to this changing environment. Our navy has a huge responsibility in this regard."

The Prime Minister spoke at the headquarters of the Indian Navy's Eastern Command here after his wife, Gursharan Kaur, broke a coconut and did a prayer to mark the launch of INS Arihant, a 6,000-tonne, 110-metre long and 11-metre wide submarine that can carry nearly 100 sailors.

India becomes the sixth country after the US, Russia, China, France and Britain to possess a nuclear-powered submarine.

The launch comes 25 years after the project was initiated when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.

Calling Sunday's event a "historic milestone", Manmohan Singh said: "We do not have any aggressive designs nor do we seek to threaten anyone. We seek an external environment in our region, and beyond that is conducive to our peaceful development and the protection of our value systems."

Manmohan Singh said the deep sea strategic capability was necessary in view of the increasing relevance of the sea in the country's security scenario.

The dockyard where the submarine was housed was flooded before the vessel could be tugged out. Officials said it would take two years of sea trials before the vessel is commissioned into the navy.

INS Arihant can stay below the water for indefinite period.

Like all submarines, it is capable of firing missiles and torpedoes. It is fitted with latest weapons and sensors. The steel for the submarine was cut in 1998.

Hailing the achievement, Defence Minister AK Antony said the "present situation in our neighbourhood" demanded greater acquisition of strategic assets.

Manmohan Singh and Antony did not take any country's name. But the biggest navy in Asia is China's. It is known to have 8-10 nuclear-powered submarines and 50-60 diesel-electric submarines.

The INS Arihant project was made successful by the close partnership of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and other public and private sector undertakings.

"Today is the first visible step towards realisation of creating the sea leg of our nuclear triad... It will provide us credible second strike capability," said India's Navy chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

The submarine will increase the reach and endurance of the Indian Navy, which seeks to become a true blue water navy and project its force beyond its borders.

The Russian help in the project was profusely appreciated by the Prime Minister.