ARIHANT अरिहंत

1. 26 July 2009: INS Arihant (means slayer of enemy) is the first indigenous nuclear submarine





2. Inagurated by PM's wife Smt Gurusharan Kaur in Vishakhapattanam dry dock (submarines are launched by lady)





3. India has the policy of second strike in nuclear weapons (attack in self defence)





4. Arihant developed entirely in India with the collaboration of Russia. A special alloy steel and nuclear reactor used in it, was supplied by Russia. [30,000Cr project, 6000 Tonne Arihant powered by 85 MW capacity nuclear reactor; surface speed - 22-28 km/h; submerged speed - 44 km/h (24 knots) ]





5. India now joins exclusive club of five countries USA, Russia, UK, France and China who have capability to develop Nuclear submarine





6. It is just a coincidence that sea launching of Submarine held on Russian Naval Day





7. As per Defence Minister AK Antony, this project, dreamed by Late PM Indira Gandhi, completes today 26 July 2009





8. Arihant will be loaded with Sagarika missile which have capability to counteract in the event of nuclear attack



9. It has unlimited range except food supplies (Submarines have to come on the water surface for taking the oxygen while in nuclear powered submarines it is not required, so it can be in deep water even for six months)



10. This was required in the light of neighbouring security environment. It is the submarine which have capability to self defence in the event of nuclear attack. Other ground and air based systems might be destroyed in the first enemy attack itself.