India test fires SLBM successfully!

India fires ballistic missile from nuclear submarine in landmark test. Earlier test-firings were done from fixed underwater pontoons. Here are 10 facts about it.

1. The submarine-launched ballistic missile test proves the credibility of India's naval nuclear deterrent. Indian ballistic missile submarines may now be able to terget China and Pakistan from underwater locations when deployed.

2. The latest submarine-launched ballistic missile test proves that the home-made INS Arihant class submarines are operational in all respects.

3. "All operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated", the Defence Ministry said in a statement after the test-firing.

4. The submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy, the Defence Ministry said.

5. The successful test launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant to prove crew competency and validate India's ballistic missile submarine program, a key element of India's nuclear deterrence capability.

6. "A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India's policy to have credible minimum deterrence that underpins its 'no first use' commitment", the Defence Ministry said.

7. India operates three home-made ballistic missile submarines and has developed two submarine-launched surface-to-surface missiles - the K-15 and the K-4. The latter has a range of 3,500 km which acts as a nuclear deterrent against China.

8. The program to build nuclear-powered submarines and fit them with submarine-launched ballistic missiles is, by far, the most complicated weapons development program India has ever engaged in. 

9. India is the 6th country in the world to have nuclear-powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles after the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.

10. INS Arihant is India's first home-made nuclear submarine. It was launched in Jul 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by former PM Dr Manmohan Singh's wife, Gursharan Kaur.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by 10.

It's a quiet Sunday.

Saw Mona Lisa in Paris thanks to Ammu, who was visiting the place at that instant. Saw also the day's session of Indian Idol - a Sharmila Tagore special - which was splendid. Yesterday's was a Tanuja special, that was equally splendid.