http://news.google.com/news/story?ncl=dF9f...MM&hl=en&ned=us

Thought it is significant enough to merit a separate thread.

I have read the BBC news article and it seems to imply that this is a SSBN which is capable of launching ballistic missiles (SLBM).

I think India have leased Russian nuclear submarines before so i will assume their 1st indigenous nuclear sub will be a SSN instead of SSBN.

INS Arihant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Class and type: Arihant class submarine
Name: INS Arihant
Builder: Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Vishakapatnam
Laid down: Unknown
Launched: 26 July, 2009
Commissioned: 2012 (planned)
Status: On trials
General characteristics
Type: SSBN
Displacement: 6000 tons (Est.)
Length: 110m
Beam: 11m
Draft: 9m (29.5ft) (Est.)
Propulsion: PWR using 40% enriched uranium fuel (80MW); one turbine (47,000hp/70MW); one shaft; one 7-bladed, high-skew propeller. (Est.)
Range: unlimited except by food supplies
Test depth: 300 m (984.2ft). (Est.)
Complement: 100 officers and men
Sensors and
processing systems: BEL USHUS
Armament: 6 x 533mm torpedoes, 12 x K-15 Sagarika SLBM

INS Arihant is India's lead ship of the Arihant class of nuclear-powered Fleet submarines. The 6000-tonne vessel was built under the top-secret ATV (advanced technology vessel) project at the Ship Building Centre in Vishakapatnam at a cost of USD 2.9 billion. It was formally launched on 26 July 2009 by Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh at the naval dockyard of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in Visakhapatnam by Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, who broke a coconut and later dedicated it to the nation.

Arihant (Sanskrit for 'destroyer of enemies') is the first nuclear-powered submarine to be built by India. When launched, it will make India only the sixth country in the world to have the capability to build Nuclear submarines indigenously. The launch of INS Arihant constitutes a big step towards India's endeavor to build a credible Nuclear triad — the capability to fire nukes from air, land and sea. There has been lot of confusion as to whether Arihant Class of submarines are SSN or SSGN or SSBN. Arihant Class is designed to carry Sagarika, which is an SLBM, a submarine launched ballisitic missile and not a cruise missile. Hence, that designates Arihant Class as SSBN without any doubt.

The project to indigenously develop a nuclear-powered submarine was first conceived during Indira Gandhi's reign as Prime Minister in 1970,but really got going only in the mid-1980s. However, until early 2009 India officially denied the existence of such a project.

K-15/Sagarika
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Type Submarine launched Short-range ballistic missile
Place of origin India
Service history
In service 2010
Production history
Manufacturer DRDO
Specifications
Weight 17 t (19 short tons)
Length 18.5 m (61 ft)
Diameter 1.8 m (5.9 ft)

Warhead 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)

Engine Two stage, solid fueled rocket motors

Operational
range 700 km @ 1000 kg and 2200 km @ 150 kg (Thermo-nuclear warhead)
Launch platform: Arihant class submarines


Sagarika (Sanskrit: सागरिका, Sâgarikâ "Oceanic") is a nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 750 kilometres (466 mi).


Overview
Sagarika has a length of 18.5 metres (61 ft), weighs 17 tonnes (17 LT; 19 ST) and can carry a payload of up to 500 kilograms (1,102 lb). Sagarika was developed at the DRDO’s missile complex in Hyderabad.

This missile will form part of the triad in India's nuclear deterrence, and will provide retaliatory nuclear strike capability.


Development
The development of this missile (under the title Project K-15)[5]) started in 1991. The Indian government first confirmed Sagarika's development seven years later (1998), when the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes, announced it during a press conference.

The development of the underwater missile launcher, known as Project 420 (P420), was completed in 2001 and handed over to the Indian Navy for trials. The missile launcher is developed at Hazira, gujarat.

The scientists who developed the missile were felicitated by the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.


Testing
The missile was successfully test fired six times, and tested to its full range up to three times. The tests of February 26, 2008 was conducted from a submerged pontoon off the coast of Vishakhapatnam

A land-based version of the K-15 Sagarika was successfully test-fired on November 12, 2008.

The development model seems to be similar to the french, in opting for a SSBN instead to complete their nuclear triad. In that sense, it should be viewed from the strategic angle rather than purely a naval development.

The Indians clearly want to have this capability from the onset of their foray into nuclear deterrent / capability. At the same time it is really because of the no-first strike policy which renders this capability a necessity and allows for some sort of understanding.

They have poured a fortune into these projects which enables them to have a submarine launched capability....which many view as more targeted at China than Pakistan.

Hopefully the domestic subs work and are safe..... becos' most techno-stuff came from the Russians....

So far I guess the India subs are safer though from Soviets. They use Foxtrot, Charlie & Kilo.

I heard their Type 209/1500 has an escape pod.