6 New Fleet Of Nuclear Submarines To Guard Indian Waters


sdBENGALURU: The Indian government will be launching a major naval expansion soon that will include the indigenous construction of seven stealth frigates and six nuclear powered attack submarines. Indian built nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant is still undergoing performance trials, according to indiatimes.com.

INS Chakra:

INS Chakra is an 8,140-tonne Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine. Its construction was started in 1993 but suspended due to lack of funding. The Indian Navy sponsored the building and sea trials of the submarine provided it was given to the Indian Navy on lease for 10 years. It was launched as K-152 Nerpa in October 2008 and entered service with the Russian Navy in late 2009.

The submarine was leased to the Indian Navy in 2011 after extensive trials, and was formally commissioned into service as INS Chakra II at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on 4 April 2012. The INS Chakra joined the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.

INS Sindhukirti (S61):

INS Sindhukirti (S61) is the seventh Sindhughosh-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy. She was built at the Admiralty Shipyard and Sevmash in the Soviet Union. Sindhukirti was commissioned on January 4, 1990. She underwent a "medium refit" from June 2006 until May 2015 at the Hindustan Shipyard at Vishakapatnam. The midlife upgrade was projected to be completed in 3 years but numerous delays postponed the submarine's return.

Having spent one third of her lifetime in refits, she finally returned to service on 23 May 2015. The 3,000-tonne INS Sindhukirti's re-induction into the fleet is vital since the Navy is down to just 13 old diesel -electric submarines—barely half of them fully operational at present—and one nuclear-powered submarine without nuclear-tipped missiles on lease from Russia.

INS Kalvari (S50):

INS Kalvari (S50) is the first of the Indian Navy's six Kalvari-class submarine being built in India. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine which is designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS and manufactured at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. She was laid down for construction on 1 April 2009. On 6 April 2015 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar launched the indigenously-built Scorpene submarine at the Mazagaon Dockyard.

Fitting-out of the submarine began on 27 April. Kalvari commenced her sea trials on 30 October 2015; weapons trials are scheduled for June 2016. She will be inducted into the Indian Navy fleet by September 2016.

India Planning To Buy Kilo Class Submarine:

The Indian Navy signs up a contract with Russia to extend the service life of the two decade old kilo class submarines to 35 years. Struggling with a depleted underwater fleet, the Navy has finalized a contract with Russian shipbuilder Zvezdochka and will be sending the first submarine for the refit in June next year.

The extensive refit, the value for which is pegged at Rs 5,000 crore for a total of four submarines, will not only extend the life of the boats but will also upgrade their combat potential. Sources told ET that the first submarine to be sent is the INS Sindhukesari that will be fitted with Klub land attack cruise missile.

INS Sindhughosh (S55):

INS Sindhughosh (S55) is the lead ship of her class of diesel-electric submarines of the Indian Navy. The submarine was commissioned in April 1986 in Riga, Latvia. This submarine is diesel-powered and has a total of six motors. INS Sindhughosh was the first submarine in Indian Navy to be equipped with the Klub ZM-54E SS-N-27 anti-ship cruise missiles with a range of 220 km.

The submarine has a displacement of nearly 3,100 tons when dived, a maximum diving depth of 300 meters, speed of up to 17 knots (31 km/h), and are able to operate solo for 45 days with a crew of 52.

INS Arihant (S73):

INS Arihant (S73) is the lead ship of India's Arihant class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam. Arihant was launched on 26 July 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by Former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

As of November 2015, it was still undergoing sea trials and is expected to join the Indian Naval fleet in February 2016 during the International Fleet Review 2016.

Read More: Precise Planning May Keep Work Worries Off: Study
Investment, Defence Cooperation To Top Modi's British Agenda