NEW DELHI — India has activated the atomic reactor on board its first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arihant, enabling it to undergo sea trials. A defense ministry official says the 83 megawatt pressurized water reactor on Arihant has been started. “Now the submarine will undergo extensive sea trials before being made operational,” the official says. INS Arihant has been undergoing trials at the Indian navy’s submarine base in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in southern India.

NEW DELHI — India’s 45,000-ton Vikrant aircraft carrier was floated out of its building bay at the state-owned Cochin shipyard in the southern state of Kerala Aug. 12, marking the end of the initial phase of construction on India’s first homegrown carrier.

NEW DELHI — The U.S. Department of Defense has notified the U.S. Congress of a possible sale of 145 M777 155-mm towed howitzers to India. The estimated cost of the deal is $885 million, which also includes providing associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) says.