India Commissions Nuclear Powered Submarine 'INS Chakra'

VISAKHAPATNAM, India  (NNN-Bernama) -- India inducted its Russian-made nuclear powered submarine 'INS Chakra' on Wednesday into the Indian Navy, joining an elite group of five nations possessing such sophisticated warships, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Defence Minister A K Antony formally commissioned the Akula II class Nerpa, rechristened INS Chakra, into the Indian Navy at the Ship Building Complex here on the southeast Indian coast along the Bay of Bengal.

With the country entering the select club consisting of the US, Russia, the UK, France and China with nuclear submarines after a gap of two decades, Antony said, "INS Chakra will ensure security and sovereignty of the country."

He did not subscribe to the view that the induction of nuclear powered submarines will lead to any arms race in the region. He said the armed forces will be strengthened to meet any challenge.

"India does not believe in arms race. We are not a confrontationist nation. We are a peaceloving nation. But, at the same time, the armed forces will be strengthened to meet any challenge," Antony told reporters when asked about Pakistan's reaction that INS Chakra's induction will lead to arms race in the region.

"We have a vast land border. We have more than 7,500 kms of coastline and more than two million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone. We have to protect the sea lanes of our core area of interest," he said.

With INS Chakra and indigenously built INS Arihant expected to start operational patrols soon, India will soon have two nuclear submarines guarding its vast maritime boundary.

With a maximum speed of 30 knots, the submarine can go up to a depth of 600 metres and has an endurance of 100 days with a crew of 73. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes. -- NNN-BERNAMA