New Delhi: Indian nuclear submarine INS Arihant has successfully completed its first deterrence patrol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday while stressing that the underwater war boat is a "fitting response" to those who indulge in "nuclear blackmail".
"India's pride, nuclear submarine INS Arihant completed its first deterrence patrol! I congratulate all those involved, especially the crew of INS Arihant for this accomplishment, which will always be remembered in our history," Modi said in a series of tweets.
The INS Arihant completes India's nuclear triad by adding maritime strike capability to land- and air-based delivery platforms. All the big five nuclear nations - the US, Russia, France, China and the UK - are already full-fledged nuclear triad powers. China reportedly began combat patrols of an armed nuclear-powered submarine in 2015.