Indian Premier Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the country’s first ever nuclear ballistic missile submarine has completed its first deterrence patrol, a local media outlet reported.
“In an era such as this, a credible nuclear deterrence is the need of the hour,” said the Indian prime minister. “The success of INS Arihant gives a fitting response to those who indulge in nuclear blackmail,” he said.
“Today is historic because it marks the completing of the successful establishment of the nuclear triad. India’s nuclear triad will be an important pillar of global peace and stability,” Modi stated on Twitter.
Today is historic because it marks the completing of the successful establishment of the nuclear triad. India’s nuclear triad will be an important pillar of global peace and stability.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 5, 2018
The submarine named INS Arihant and is said to be in making for the past 30 years can target China and can now be considered a fully functional underwater ballistic missile delivery platform, a local media outlet said while quoting an Indian media outlet.
The newly launched submarine “completes India’s nuclear triad by adding maritime strike capability to land and air-based delivery platforms”.
It merits a mention that Pakistan had already achieved the milestone in 2017 with the launch of Babur-3 missile. In March this year, Pakistan carried out another successful test of the nuclear-capable Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) Babur and announced that it has attained ‘Credible Second Strike Capability’.
