Kalam nudge at fleet review: time for indigenous subs, longer range

After a four-hour sortie in a Naval submarine this morning, the first by a President, Kalam said, ‘‘Independent of whatever foreign collaboration, it is essential for the Indian Navy to launch the design, development of two types of submarines, one of the conventional class and the other strategic with long endurance capability.’’

The President undertook a dip in the INS Sindhurakshak, a Russian-built Kilo class submarine purchased nine years ago from Moscow. The President was given a guided tour of the entire vessel and was even given a simulated demonstration of a torpedo attack on a Naval destroyer before a formal lunch with the crew.

‘‘The experience during my stay on board has reinforced my perception of our submarine arm, as a professionally skilled and mentally robust fighting force,’’ the President said when he emerged from the sortie. ‘‘Having fulfilled the long cherished desire to sail onboard a submarine, I was delighted to go to sea on board INS Sindhurakshak,’’ he said.

‘‘Strategic Navy like ours needs a submarine fleet. The government has recently launched construction programme with state-of-the-art technology, which would pave the way for adding more and more submarines in our Navy and simultaneously enable building of strong indigenous know-how in design, development and construction,’’ the President said.