Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur launched India’s first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant , becoming only the sixth country in the world to do so.

The 6000 tonne INS Arihant submarine is powered by an 85 megawatt capacity nuclear reactor and can acquire surface speeds of 22 to 28 kmph (12-15 knots) and submerged speed upto 44 kmph (24 knots).

It has the capacity to carry a staff of 100 men and will be armed with torpedoes and missiles including 12 ballistic missiles.

INS Arihant is entirelybuilt in India with Russian assistance.

The Rs 30,000-crore secret nuclear submarine project was started in the 1980s though it was conceived by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the 1970s.

With the launch of the submarine India will join the exclusive club of US, Russia, France China and the United Kingdom.

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