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Ex-AEC boss lifts lid off N-submarine programme
MUMBAI: Former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman P K Iyengar has publicly confirmed the existence of an Indian nuclear submarine programme, something that has for long been spoken about in hushed tones in the nuclear establishment but never officially confirmed.
Speaking at a meeting on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Iyengar questioned the need for India to import light water reactors, saying that a similar one was already under development at Kalpakkam near Chennai for a nuclear submarine.
"If we have to obtain technology from the US in 2007, I am ashamed of being called an Indian. Pokhran-1 (Indias first nuclear weapon test in May 1974) showed that we have indigenous capability. So, I feel that there is no need for us to important light water reactors," the scientist told a meeting on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Though the nuclear submarine programme has been classified as a "black project", which means it is top secret, this is almost the first time that a man connected with Indias nuclear weaponisation projects has confirmed its existence in public.
Iyengar said that if Raja Ramanna, often described as the father of the Indian nuclear bomb, was alive, he would have adopted a practical approach to international collaboration.
"When there was a need for collaboration, Ramanna backed it. For example, he played a key role in leasing a Russian nuclear submarine for the Indian Navy. But, he refused to accept the Russian terms for supplying Russian reactors. Over this he had a serious dispute with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi," he said.
Ex-AEC boss lifts lid off N-submarine programme-India-The Times of India
MUMBAI: Former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman P K Iyengar has publicly confirmed the existence of an Indian nuclear submarine programme, something that has for long been spoken about in hushed tones in the nuclear establishment but never officially confirmed.
Speaking at a meeting on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Iyengar questioned the need for India to import light water reactors, saying that a similar one was already under development at Kalpakkam near Chennai for a nuclear submarine.
"If we have to obtain technology from the US in 2007, I am ashamed of being called an Indian. Pokhran-1 (Indias first nuclear weapon test in May 1974) showed that we have indigenous capability. So, I feel that there is no need for us to important light water reactors," the scientist told a meeting on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Though the nuclear submarine programme has been classified as a "black project", which means it is top secret, this is almost the first time that a man connected with Indias nuclear weaponisation projects has confirmed its existence in public.
Iyengar said that if Raja Ramanna, often described as the father of the Indian nuclear bomb, was alive, he would have adopted a practical approach to international collaboration.
"When there was a need for collaboration, Ramanna backed it. For example, he played a key role in leasing a Russian nuclear submarine for the Indian Navy. But, he refused to accept the Russian terms for supplying Russian reactors. Over this he had a serious dispute with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi," he said.
Ex-AEC boss lifts lid off N-submarine programme-India-The Times of India
