July 26-India Sunday launched its first home-made nuclear-powered attack submarine in what Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said a process to strengthen the country's military preparedness.
Singh personally chaired the launching ceremony at the navy port of Visakhapatnam, southern India, during which his wife Gursharan Kaur broke a coconut and did a prayer to mark the launch of INS Arihant. the 6,000-ton, 110-meter long and 11-meter wide warship capable of carrying 100 sailors, said a senior navy officer.
"It marks a quantum leap in India's shipbuilding capabilities and let the country join the elite club which can build nuclear powered attack submarines -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain," said the officer on condition of anonymity.
The submarine was housed in a dry dock, which was flooded with sea water to mark the launching ceremony, said the officer.
The submarine will be commissioned in the Indian Navy as INS Arihant, which translates as "destroyer of enemies", after extensive outfitting and sea trial, he added.
It is the first of three such vessels to be built in the country. Hitherto, submarines have been built here under licence from their foreign designers.
