INS Chakra Nuclear Submarine Inducted

Defence Minister AK Antony formally commissioned the first operational nuclear attack submarine INS Chakra into the Indian Navy at the Ship Building Complex Visakhapatnam. Earlier the submarine was called Akula II class Nerpa and now it has been rechristened as INS Chakra. Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister said that the INS Chakra will ensure security and sovereignty of the country.

India has earlier leased and operated Charlie Class Russian nuclear submarine from 1988 for training its personnel on such submarines. With INS Chakra and the indigenous INS Arihant expected to start operational patrols soon, India will soon have two nuclear submarines guarding its vast maritime boundaries. The Nerpa has been taken on lease from Russia for ten years and would provide Navy the opportunity to train and operate such nuclear-powered vessels.