India to commission nuke sub in 2 years

New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) Naval Chief Sureesh Mehta today expressed hope that the country would be able to commission its nuclear submarine in two years.

Code named Advance Technology Vessel (ATV), the strategic vessel is under construction at Vishakhapatnam.

At the same time, the Naval Chief said India was negotiating to lease a Russian nuclear submarine and hoped the country would get the platform in the middle of next year, adding it would be used for training Indian naval personnel.

Earlier, also, India had leased a nuclear submarine from Russia.

On the progress of indigenous ATV, he said this technology demonstrator, being built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), would be commissioned within two years.

Replying to a query, Admiral Mehta admitted the country was also trying to procure submarines other than the Scropene and the letter of request could be issued next year.

India currently has 16 diesel-run submarines, including ten Russian kilo class ones and four German HDDW.

The country has already contracted to buy six French Scropene submarines for Rs 18,000 crore and these would be delivered to the Indian Navy between 2012 to 2017.

UNI