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News >> Technology >>
India to launch 1st nuclear submarine
By siliconindia
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Tuesday, 20 March 2007, 17:30 IST
New Delhi: India is all set to enter the exclusive nuclear submarine club later this year, when it launches its first nuclear submarine, reported CNN-IBN today.
Codenamed "Advanced Technology Vessel", the project has been crawling since the 1970s. Reports now indicate that India has overcome the biggest problem or miniaturisation of a nuclear power plant that is to be mounted on a submarine hull.
According to IBN's reports, the mini nuclear plant has been developed with Russian assistance, and has been tested and validated at Kalpakkam.
The vessel will be launched in Vishakapatnam and sea trials for this submarine are slated to begin by 2010, and are expected to be fully operational by 2012. It displaces 6, 500 tonnes and can stay submerged for upto 100 days. Armed with guided missiles, it will have a crew of 70 people, reported the channel.
India is also in negotiations to acquire two Russian-made nuclear submarines of the Akula class. Indian Navy's last submarine operation was in the late 1980s, when it had leased a Russian Charlie class vessel.