Indian n-sub to be operational in two years

New Delhi: India's indigenously designed and built nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, will assume an operational profile after two years, according to Indian Navy chief, Admiral Nirmal Verma.

"Arihant, of course, will take about two years of trials before she is inducted in the navy," Adm Nirmal Verma has said in an interview for the forthcoming issue of defence journal Indian Defence Review.

Verma said the Navy and the DRDO were looking into the challenges such as "proving of new technology, getting the submarine fully operational, developing doctrines and procedures" for the induction of Arihant.

"We are actively working on all these issues, and more, to ensure that we have a credible deterrent in the form of Arihant and follow-on submarines," he said.

Adm Verma has also said that India stands to learn a lot through Arihant's trials  as it will "provide valuable inputs" for the indigenous nuclear submarine programme.