India’s First Domestic Ballistic Missile Sub Due in 2015

February 13, 2014

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) announced on Friday during the Def-Expo exhibition taking place in New Delhi, that the commissioning of the country’s first indigenously-developed nuclear-power submarine INS Arihant and its first intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-V can be expected by 2015, The Times of India writes.

According to DRDO, at the moment the submarine is undergoing the power-raising phase, which will be followed by sea trials.

The nuclear reactor onboard the 6,000-tonne INS Arihant went critical in August 2013.

When it comes to the K-15 missiles, they are set to be fired from the submarine later this year.

The submarine is designed in such a way that it can remain in the high seas for considerable periods without having to refuel, it can carry 12 nuclear missiles K-15, along with a medium-range nuclear missile BO-5. The vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.

The Arihant is the first of five planned boats in its class, powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor, which is driven by enriched uranium fuel.

The Agni-V is a three-stage, solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of 5,500-5,800 km. It has already been passed test firing.

The missile will allow India to strike targets across Asia and into Europe flying to distances of 5,000 kilometres.