According to the Indian defence ministry, the nuclear submarine INS Arihant successfully launched a ballistic missile in the Bay of Bengal on Friday.
High accuracy was achieved by the missile.
“We have validated all operational and technical parameters of the weapon system,” Defence Ministry said in a statement. “All missiles were tested to predetermined ranges and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy”.
As part of India’s nuclear deterrence capability, the successful launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is an important step for proving crew competency and validating the SSBN programme.
“India should have a robust, survivable, and assured retaliatory capability that underpins its commitment to ‘No First Use’,” the ministry said.
Manmohan Singh launched INS Arihant on July 26, 2009. Atomic reactors on the submarine were activated in August 2013.
An Indian government with a ‘no first strike policy’ for nuclear weapons considers Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarines (SSBNs) as the most credible platform.
Additionally, the country plans to acquire four more SSBNs along with six nuclear-powered SSNs like the INS Chakra nuclear submarine leased from Russia on several occasions.
Submarines would counter the growing presence of nuclear submarines in the Indian Ocean Region of the Chinese Navy.