India begins project to build 6 nuclear-powered submarines

India has kick-started an ambitious project to build six nuclear-powered attack submarines that is expected to boost the Navy’s overall strike capabilities in the face of China’s naval build-up and increasing military manoeuvring in the Indo-Pacific region, reports PTI

Confirming the launch of the mega project, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba also gave a clear indication that Indian Navy was ready to play a bigger role including under the proposed quadrilateral coalition among India, the US, Australia and Japan.

In a press conference on the eve of Navy Day, Admiral Lanba also touched on a range of key issues confronting the Navy including acquisition of a range of submarines, warships and weapons systems, asserting that it was ready to face any

traditional and non-traditional threats.

He also spoke about possible security challenges in case of presence of Chinese warships in the strategicallyimportant Gwadar port in Pakistan which is being developed by China. “It will be a security challenge. We will have to look at it and mitigate,” he said.

The Navy Chief said eight ships of Chinese PLA Navy were deployed in the Indian Ocean region at any point of time and that there was a unique situation in August

when the numbers had gone up to 14. N-powered sub damaged : Indian Navy’s only nuclearpowered submarine, INS Chakra, has suffered a damage and a board of inquiry has been ordered into it, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said. “There has been some damage to her sonar domes where two panels have been dislodged. A board of inquiry has been instituted,” he said. INS Chakra, propelled by a 190 MW reactor, was taken by India on lease from Russia in 2012 for 10 years.