India completes successful missile test with nuclear submarine Arihant

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Oct 2022 18:45

India becomes the sixth country in the world capable of carrying out nuclear strikes and counterstrikes on land, air, and sea.

India's nuclear submarine Arihant successfully test-fires missile

The Indian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday that India conducted successful missile tests from its nuclear submarine INS Arihant in the Bay of Bengal.

According to the Ministry, the submarine fired ballistic missiles and hit the target area with accurate precision.

"The successful user training launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN program, a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability," the statement reads.

India, being the largest importer of arms in the world and purchasing almost all its frontline weaponry from Russia, is stepping to become the sixth country in the world that can conduct nuclear strikes and counterstrikes on land, air, and sea.

🔴India's nuclear submarine #INSArihant successfully launched ballistic missile (#SLBM) today in Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy. pic.twitter.com/t8XVvRgurC
— IDU (@defencealerts) October 14, 2022

According to SIPRI, between 2011 and 2021, Moscow accounted for 60% of India's arms imports, totaling $22.9 billion),

The average annual amount of deliveries for this period amounted to $2.1 billion.

34% of all sales from Russia for the specified period are accounted to India over the purchase of materials such as armored vehicles, aviation equipment, air defense systems, small arms... etc.

Hence, the significance of the missile tests lies in that India is starting to become reliant on itself in matters of defense.

On April 25, the EU offered a boost in purchases of EU-made weapons to encourage India to minimize its connections with Russia amid Ukraine's war.

Nevertheless, India had refused openly to condemn the Russian special military operation in Ukraine and abstained from voting during the recent UNGA summit to condemn Russia's reunification with four former Ukrainian regions.

#UNGA adopts the resolution condemning #Russia's annexation of #Ukraine's regions; 143 countries vote in favour, 5 vote against, 35 including #India abstain.#UkraineRussianWar pic.twitter.com/HdpNnesMoc
— sirdcentre (@sirdcentre) October 13, 2022

The latest updates reveal that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the first batch of Indian-made helicopters which have been designed for use in high-altitude regions like the Himalayas.

On July 29, the Indian Navy forces announced they had received Vikrant, the first-ever Indian-made aircraft carrier.