By Dean Nelson
India will soon launch its first
home-built nuclear submarine, capable of firing ballistic missiles, as the
country escalates an arms race with China and Pakistan.
 |
Beijing warned India against
'arrogance' earlier this year following its
successful launch of the
Agni IV intercontinental ballistic missile,
pictured above Photo: GETTY
|
INS Arihant, planned to be the
first of five submarines of its class, will be ready to begin sea trials, said
Admiral Nirmal Verma, the navy commander. When the vessel eventually becomes
operational, India
will be able to launch nuclear missiles from the sea, land and air, joining a
handful of countries possessing the "nuclear triad".
The strategic aim is to deter
China and Pakistan and establish India as the leading power in the Indian
Ocean.
"INS Arihant is steadily
progressing towards becoming operational," said Adml Verma. "We are
pretty close to putting it to sea."
The navy was poised to
"complete the triad, and our maritime and nuclear doctrines will then be
aligned to ensure our nuclear insurance comes from the sea," added Adml
Verma. "Given our unequivocal 'no first-use commitment', a retaliatory
strike capability that is credible and invulnerable is an imperative."
INS Arihant will carry the K-15
ballistic missile, which carries a nuclear warhead. However, this weapon has a
relatively modest range of less than 500 miles, raising questions about its
ability to hit a target in China.
Nonetheless, Adml Verma's
statement is likely to provoke a strong reaction from Beijing, which warned
India against 'arrogance' earlier this year following its successful launch of
the Agni IV intercontinental ballistic missile, a land-based weapon which can
strike any city in China.
Mohan Guruswamy, from the Centre
for Policy Alternatives in New Delhi, said the imminent launch of the new
submarine "changed the equation [between India and China]
considerably."
He pointed out that India was
also planning to launch six nuclear-powered attack submarines, adding that
within seven years the country should have a varied fleet which would, in
theory, be able to block Chinese access to the Indian Ocean via the Strait of
Malacca. "They could be sitting off Karachi – or China. It's an investment
for the future," said Mr Guruswamy.
Courtesy: Telegraph, UK, Aug
09, 2012
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