India is building its first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, at Visakhapatnam port in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, a media report said Thursday.

It is the first of a class of three nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines with a displacement of 6,000 tonnes, according to NDTV news channel, which also claims to have accessed the first images of the vessel.

INS Arihan is designed to carry four nuclear-tipped submarine- launched ballistic missiles called the K-4 which have a range of 3, 500 kms, the report said.

India currently operates another nuclear submarine, Russia-made INS Chakra.

When the new submarine is battle-ready, India will become one of only six countries in the world with the knowledge of designing, engineering and operating a nuclear submarine. Endi

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