India has commissioned into service its first nuclear-powered attack submarine, which it has leased for 10 years from Russia.
“This will be a big boost for the Indian navy,” defence minister A K Antony said after commissioning the submarine at an undisclosed base near Vishkapatnam on India’s southeast coast.
He said the nuclear submarine would ensure India’s “security and sovereignty”.
The INS Chakra is armed with land-attack cruise missiles which have a strike range of 300 kms, and other weaponry including torpedoes. It has four 650mm tubes with 12 torpedoes and four 533mm tubes with 28 torpedoes. The torpedoes can be replaced with mines, rocket assisted torpedoes and varied submersibles.
