India has successfully tested a ballistic missile-Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile, fired from its strategic strike nuclear submarine INS Arihant, on Friday, the defence ministry said.
According to the defence ministry, the missile was tested at a predetermined range and successfully hit the target area in the Bay of Bengal.
In addition, the ministry added that all the parameters of the weapon system have been validated. This is seen as a major milestone to further boost the strategic capabilities of the nation.
“The successful user training launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN programme, a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability,” the ministry stated.
“A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins its ‘no first use’ commitment,” it said.
Gursharan Kaur, the wife of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, launched India’s first indigenous nuclear submarine. This was on the eve of Vijay Diwas in July 2009.
It was then commissioned in 2016 by former defense minister Manohar Parrikar after a series of sea trials.
As reported by the Times of India, India is now the sixth nation, in conjunction with the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China to have nuclear-powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles.