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Indian Navy's first missile-firing submarine commissioned

INS Sindhushastra, the Indian Navy's first missile-firing submarine, which was commissioned at St Petersburg in Russia on Wednesday, will balance the sea-denial capability in the region, naval sources said in New Delhi.

Fitted with the 300km range Klub missile, the Sindhushastra commissioned in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sushil Kumar, will match Pakistan's sea-denial capability.

The Pakistani submarines have always had underwater-fired Harpoon missiles.

Naval experts believe that a sea-denial capability is at times more important than a sea-control capability which is proffered by aircraft carriers and other surface ships.

It is possible that some of the newer modified Kilo class submarines will also be retrofitted to enable them to carry the Klub missiles. While the Sindhushastra will carry the anti-ship Klub missile, the others may use the anti-shore variety for land attack.

Naval sources said the Sindhushastra would be joining the fleet in a couple of months. It is the tenth submarine of the 877 EKM class.

UNI

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