Nuclear reactor on board INS Arihant activated

In a major step towards completing its nuclear triad, India has activated the atomic reactor on-board the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant, paving the way for its operational deployment by the Indian Navy.

"The nuclear reactor on-board the INS Arihant has been made critical (activated) last night," sources said on the development of the nuclear submarine.

Nuclear triad is the ability to fire nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea.

After the nuclear reactor is activated, the agencies concerned can work towards readying the warship for operational deployments soon.

INS Arihant has been undergoing trials at Navy's key submarine base in Vishakhapatnam and would be launched for sea trials soon since the nuclear reactor has gone critical.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation has also readied a medium-range nuclear missile BO-5; its last developmental trial was held on January 27 off the coast of Vishakhapatnam.

The nuclear submarine will help India achieve the capability of going into high seas without the need to surface the vessel for a long duration.

Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to come up on surface at regular intervals for charging the cells of the vessel.