Donatello
RETIRED TTA
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Hi,
Official flank speed of Akula could be around 35--38 knots----un-officially 40--45 knots. As for arihant---the official speed is lesser----I doubt that very much---a newer version of akula---a lesser speed---not believable.
In order for a torpedoes to catch it---it needs to have a speed of around 60 + knots-----minimu 1/3rd speed faster than the sub.
( But---if 28 knots is the true maximum flank speed----then that is one big flaw that india will come to rue at time of engagement ).
For that reason----the russians know that they cannot compete with the fast and silent boats of the u s and their electronic warfare and sensor package----so what do they do---they come up with shkval---an extremely high speed deadly torpedoe which can reach speeds of over a 100 knots when in the final attack mode.
Just for the sake of information---latest torpedoes when launched don't go out at maximum speed like the missiles----they maybe sniffing and hunting like dogs and once they lock onto the scent they start tracking it----as they get closer---then in the final putsch---they go to their max speed.
The other thing is that the arihant can stay at flank speed 24/7 if it needs to---( just for the sake of argument ) the AIP can't do that at all. It has a very limited time for a flank speed---it does not have the endurance.
AIP or diesel boats cannot compete with the nuc boats---. If they cannot take the nuc boat out with a surprise first shot---they don't have a chance of coming out of it alive.
Pak will need a couple of nuc boats---there is no other way around it---.
Senor are you sure Akula has that speed? Because Soviet Alfa class was that speeding monster. Also, running the sub at max speed means maximum noise.
Also, INS Arihant is a ballistic missile submarine, not a hunter-killer like the Akulas and Alfas.