INDIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEFS ON OUR RELENTLESS AND FOCUSED PUBLISHING EFFORTS
The insightful articles, inspiring narrations and analytical perspectives presented by the Editorial Team, establish an alluring connect with the reader. My compliments and best wishes to SP Guide Publications.
"Over the past 60 years, the growth of SP Guide Publications has mirrored the rising stature of Indian Navy. Its well-researched and informative magazines on Defence and Aerospace sector have served to shape an educated opinion of our military personnel, policy makers and the public alike. I wish SP's Publication team continued success, fair winds and following seas in all future endeavour!"
Since, its inception in 1964, SP Guide Publications has consistently demonstrated commitment to high-quality journalism in the aerospace and defence sectors, earning a well-deserved reputation as Asia's largest media house in this domain. I wish SP Guide Publications continued success in its pursuit of excellence.
- India’s Operation Sindoor Sends a Clear Message to Terror and the World – ‘ZERO TOLERANCE’
- Japan and India set forth a defence cooperation consultancy framework, talks on tank and jet engines
- Terrorist Attack in Pahalgam in Kashmir: Unfolding a long surgical war against PAK
- Lt General Pratik Sharma takes over Command of Indian Army's Northern Command
INS Chakra joins Indian Navy, Govt considers lease of 2nd submarine
By SP's Special Correspondent, Visakhapatnam
A poster welcoming INS Chakra as the newest member of
the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam
Defence Minsiter A.K. Antony, flanked by CNS Admiral Nirmal
Verma and MoS Defence M.M. Pallam Raju on the upper
deck of INS Chakra during its induction ceremony
Defence Minister A.K. Antony disembarking INS Chakra
after the ceremonials
April 05, 2012: The 8,140-tonne Russian Akula-II class nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN) INS Chakra joined the Indian Navy today, pushing the service back into an exclusive club it got a brief membership to almost a quarter century ago: countries that operate nuclear powered submarines. The Chakra will operate under the Eastern Naval Command and, unlike its predecessor namesake, a Charlie-I SSGN that was leased mostly as a training lab and testbed, the new submarine will very much be part of the navy's warfighting arsenal. Reputed to be among the stealthiest, quietest submarines ever built, the Chakra comes armed with anti-ship/submarine torpedoes, anti-ship and land attack missiles and surface to air missiles. The 110-metre long vessel, powered by a pressurised water reactor that churns out 190MW, can stay submerged for over 100 days, theoretically limited only by the endurance of its 100-strong crew and the inventory levels of its rations and consumables.
Among assertions from the strategic community that while the induction of the SSN was good news, India actually needed at least five more such boats to truly be able to project power, Defence Minister A.K. Antony today confirmed that the country was considering a proposal to lease a second Akula-II class SSN from Russia, but did not indicate the status of the proposal. Asked about the default comparisons with China's healthier nuclear submarine fleet, the Defence Minister said, "The INS Chakra is not aimed at any country. It is for our national security."
India's indigenous SSBN programme is to make progress this year, with the first vessel Arihant to enter a crucial phase of sea trials and a planned induction into service two years from now. Antony called upon the Arihant programme to ensure that he was invited back to Visakhapatnam soon to witness the ballistic missile submarine enter service.
The aft portion of INS Chakra at its induction ceremony, showing the towed array sonar pod. Landing ship INS Jalashwa can be seen in the background
INS Chakra at Jetty X of the Shipbuilding Centre in Visakhapatnam, moments before it was formally
inducted into Indian Navy service
|
| A poster welcoming INS Chakra as the newest member of the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam |
|
| Defence Minsiter A.K. Antony, flanked by CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma and MoS Defence M.M. Pallam Raju on the upper deck of INS Chakra during its induction ceremony |
|
| Defence Minister A.K. Antony disembarking INS Chakra after the ceremonials |
Among assertions from the strategic community that while the induction of the SSN was good news, India actually needed at least five more such boats to truly be able to project power, Defence Minister A.K. Antony today confirmed that the country was considering a proposal to lease a second Akula-II class SSN from Russia, but did not indicate the status of the proposal. Asked about the default comparisons with China's healthier nuclear submarine fleet, the Defence Minister said, "The INS Chakra is not aimed at any country. It is for our national security."
India's indigenous SSBN programme is to make progress this year, with the first vessel Arihant to enter a crucial phase of sea trials and a planned induction into service two years from now. Antony called upon the Arihant programme to ensure that he was invited back to Visakhapatnam soon to witness the ballistic missile submarine enter service.
|
|
|
| The aft portion of INS Chakra at its induction ceremony, showing the towed array sonar pod. Landing ship INS Jalashwa can be seen in the background | INS Chakra at Jetty X of the Shipbuilding Centre in Visakhapatnam, moments before it was formally inducted into Indian Navy service |
SP's MAI - CURRENT ISSUE
