NEW DELHI: India yesterday launched the first nuclear-powered submarine built on its soil, joining just five other countries that can design and construct such vessels, the prime minister's office announced.

The Indian navy flooded a dry dock housing the 112-meter-long submarine to send it out for trials at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh called it a "historic milestone in the country's defense preparedness" as the 6,000-ton INS Arihant (Destroyer of Enemies) was named in the southern port city of Vishakhapatnam.