India's first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant revealed

New Delhi, June 1 (ANI): The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government while presenting its annual report card here on Tuesday revealed the photograph of India's first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant for the first time.

Stressing that coastal and maritime security has assumed significance especially after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the government in the UPA-II report said the launching into the waters of the indigenous INS Arihant nuclear submarine showed its commitment to strengthening the coastal security and surveillance mechanism.

"A decision has been taken to induct the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, with precision strike capability against land targets. Akash surface to air missile system capable of multi-target handling, is also being inducted," the report said.

INS Arihant is the lead ship of India's Arihant class of nuclear-powered submarines. The 5,000-6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.

The submarine is reported to be similar to the Russian Charlie-II class submarine, which India leased from the Soviet Union between 1988 and 1991. (ANI)