INDIA’S nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant on Friday carried out a successful launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in the Bay of Bengal with a “very high accuracy”, the Defence Ministry said.

It said, all operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been “validated”.

The missile launch is seen as a major milestone to further boost India’s strategic strike capabilities.

“INS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) on October 14. The missile was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy,” the Ministry said in a statement. It said, “all operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated”.

India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) programme is a closely guarded project. INS Arihant was the first boat under the SSBN project that was followed by another boat, INS Arighat.

In a statement, the Defence Ministry said that the SSBN programme is a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability. It said, a “robust, survivable and assured retaliatory” capability is in sync with the country’s policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins its ‘no first use’ commitment.