Modi speaks to Italian PM Georgia Meloni, thanks her for Italy G7 Summit invitation
The G7 Summit is scheduled to be held in Italy from June 13-15.
statesman news service
NEW DELHI, 10 AUG: The atomic reactor on board the indigenous nuclear submarine, Arihant, was activated last night. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a message that the Indian Navy had taken “a giant stride in the progress of our indigenous technological capabilities”. Mr Singh said in a message: “It is testimony to the ability of our scientists, technologists and defence personnel to work together for mastering complex technologies in the service of our nation&’s security.”
The activation took place about four years since the launch by the Prime Minister on 26 July 2009. Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Kargil war, it is a major step towards completing the nuclear triad. The nuclear triad is the ability to fire nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea.
“The nuclear reactor on board the INS Arihant has been made critical (activated) on Friday night,” sources said.
The agencies concerned can work towards readying the warship for operational deployment soon. INS Arihant has been undergoing trials at the Navy&’s key submarine base in Vishakhapatnam and would be launched for sea trials soon since the nuclear reactor has gone critical. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has readied a medium-range nuclear missile BO-5 to be deployed on the Arihant. Its last developmental trial was held on 27 January off the coast of Vishakhapatnam.
The nuclear submarine will help India achieve the capability of going into high seas without the need for the vessel to surface for a long duration. Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to come up on the surface at regular intervals for charging the cells of the vessel. Congratulating the defence scientists and the personnel of the Indian Navy, Defence Minister A K Antony said it was a very important milestone in the nation&’s journey towards self-reliance in critical areas. The indigenously built nuclear submarine would be the pride of the Navy when it joins the fleet, he added.
Advertisement
