Bull’s Eye: India successfully fires ballistic missile from nuclear submarine INS Arihant

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

INS Arihant, the Indian navy’s nuclear ballistic missile submarine, carried out a successful test firing of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) on October 14, 2022. The missile was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy. This is considered to be a major milestone as earlier test firings were done from fixed underwater pontoons.

The Ministry of Defense said that all operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated. The successful test firing of SLBM proves that India’s ballistic missile submarines have the means and capability to target China and Pakistan from underwater locations.

“The successful user training launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN program, a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability. A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence’ that underpins its ‘No First Use’ commitment.”

After the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China, India has become the 6th country in the world to have nuclear-powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles. INS Arihant is India’s first indigenously developed nuclear submarine that was launched in July 2009, on the anniversary of Vijay Diwas.

Indian navy’s nuclear ballistic missile submarines like the INS Arihant are classified as Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarines (SSBN) which are under the purview of the Strategic Forces Command of India’s Nuclear Command Authority. The Indian government announced the setting up of its “survivable nuclear triad” (the ability to launch nuclear strikes from land air and sea) after INS Arihant completed its first deterrence patrol in 2019.

The SLBMs have been indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). These missiles are much lighter and more compact as they have to be launched from submarines.

 

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