NEW DELHI: When it comes to undersea naval fleet, Indian Navy's submarine strength is not as impressive as its neighbour China. According to the latest Pentagon estimates, China's PLA Navy currently possesses five nuclear attack submarines (SSN), four nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), compared to India's one functional nuclear Akula-class Chakra. India's indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant is still undergoing performance trials.
In an attempt to bolster the maritime prowess, Modi-led government has cleared the indigenous construction of seven stealth frigates and six nuclear-powered submarines at a cost of about Rs 1 lakh crore in February 2015. The mega plan, the first of its kind, could give the navy much-needed teeth but it will take a long time to implement - even accelerated development will take close to a decade before the first boat comes in.
The decision to build the six new submarines is part of the 30-year submarine building programme cleared in 1999. The plan is to have 24 submarines in 30 years. The first project was the P75, under which six Scorpene-class submarines are being built in India. The ongoing Rs 23,562 crore construction of six French Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Docks (Mumbai) is running four years behind schedule.
The first Scorpene, which was finally undocked on April 6, 2015, is now to be commissioned in September 2016. The other five will be delivered by 2020, at intervals of nine months each.
Another project for six more submarines was cleared by the government last year and this project was titled P75I. Billed as the largest Make in India project, the P 75I is in its final stages and the navy is set to go ahead with the process to select a foreign design.
The Indian Ocean region (IOR) is the one of the most contested zones, where both India and China are trying to create a strategic influence. With two-thirds of the global oil, half of the container traffic and a third of the cargo traffic passing through it, the IOR holds a special significance for the entire world. With increasing signs that China is expanding its influence in the region, it is imperative for the Navy to have the best-in-class naval fleet to counter.
We take a look the recent developments to boost India's undersea fleet:
> India's indigenous nuclear submarine Arihant to undergo missile firing tests
India's first indegenously developed nuclear submarine Arihant, which has "successfully" completed the sea trials held so far, will undergo its maiden missile firing test soon.
The aim is to handover the submarine to the Indian Navy during the International Fleet Review scheduled in February next year in Vishakapatnam, top defence sources said to ET.
India plans to build at least two more Arihant-class submarines. India had started building Arihant in the 1990s under its highly secretive ATV (Advanced Technology Vessel) program. Though Arihant was initially supposed to be a fast-attack submarine, the project was realigned to make it a ballistic missile submarine following the nuclear test conducted by India in 1998.
> Pipavav Defence's pact with Russian firm Zvyozdochka to refit submarines
INS Sindhughosh
Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering announced the signing of a multi-crore agreement with Russia-based JSC Ship Repairing Centre Zvyozdochka for medium refits and life certification of eight EKM 877 submarines in India.
Pipavav, in which Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group is in the process of acquiring a majority stake, proposes to execute the program under a joint venture, with 51 per cent stake, consistent with MoD regulations, a company statement said. The indicative value of work proposed to be undertaken by the proposed JV is approximately Rs 11,000 crore, it added.
This will also mark the first time the work for refit of submarines was being considered for the private sector in India.
Under the terms of the agreement, Zvyozdochka will provide complete technical assistance and support to the JV, including inter alia for enhancement of infrastructure at the Pipavav facilities, training of engineers among others.
> Indian Navy signs Rs 5,000 crore pact with Russian shipbuilder Zvezdochka for Kilo class submarine refit
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.
While the first of the four submarines will be upgraded at Severodvinsk in Russia, the plan is to upgrade the remaining three in an Indian yard as part of the 'Make in India' initiative. Zvezdochka, which is the Russian yard tasked with the modernization process, has already tied up with Reliance Defence to upgrade the submarines at the Pipavav yard in Gujarat.
However, the Navy has currently awarded the upgrade contract for the first submarine only. A decision on the remaining will be taken after a review of Indian yards and their capability to undertake the complex upgrade. The Sindhukesari will be the first of the Indian Kilo class submarines to undergo the life extension upgrade to 35 years even though the Russian Navy has done this 'second refit' to its fleet.
> Scorpene class 'Kalvari' submarine to start sea trials soon
Kalvari, the first of India's Scorpene class submarines, is slated to commence trials at sea soon. Kalavari, was set afloat in the Naval Dockyard (Mumbai) and was brought back to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. The boat is therefore now slated to undergo rigorous harbour trials and tests which would certify each system to its fullest capacity.
A technology, called air independent propulsion (AIP) system, will ensure that it stays underwater longer. It it will be carrying anti-ship missiles and torpedoes on board.
> Upgraded submarine INS Sindhukirti to boost Navy's flagging fleet
The 3,000-tonne INS Sindhukirti's re-induction into the fleet is vital since the Navy is down to just 13 old dieselelectric submarines - barely half of them fully operational at present -and one nuclear-powered submarine with out nuclear-tipped missiles on lease from Russia.
A submarine's design or "prescribed life" is considered to be 25 years. But 10 of the 13 conventional boats are already older than that, with the others not being far behind. INS Sindhurakshak, which sank after internal explosions at Mumbai naval dockyard in August 2013 killing 18 personnel, was in fact one of the relatively newer submarines.
As reported by TOI earlier, the medium refit of the 25-year-old INS Sindhukirti, which was to be completed within three years, itself is a shocking story. Gross mismanagement, coupled with alleged perfidy by Russian experts, ensured the submarine remained stuck at Hindustan Shipyard (Visakhapatnam) since early 2006.
But, INS Sindhukirti is "as good as new" now, with hull renewal as well as new weapons, sonars, fire control systems and the like. The vessel will now also be capable of firing the almost 300-km Klub-S land-attack missiles from the six torpedo tubes fitted on its "nose".
> India in talks with Russia to lease new modern, world-class nuclear attack submarine
India is in final talks with Russia to lease a new nuclear attack submarine, giving a much needed boost to its depleting underwater fleet. Signaling a difference in approach by the Modi-led government, India is now looking to lease a newly built, customised submarine, unlike in the past when older vessels were refurbished and handed over.
Several sources related to the project that ET spoke with confirmed that talks on leasing a new submarine under the 'Chakra 3' project are in advanced stages.
India has the 'Chakra 2' Akula class nuclear submarine in service that is considered to be one of the deadliest non-US attack boats in the world. This submarine - a refurbished Soviet era boat - has been taken on a 10-year lease from Russia in 2012. 'Chakra 1', India's first nuclear submarine, was taken on a similar lease in the late 1980s.
While talks on leasing a third Chakra have been on for over two years, a change of stand has taken place after the new government took over, with the Indian side insisting on a modern, world-class submarine on lease. The only nuclear attack submarine of this kind being produced in Russia currently is the Yasen class, the quietest, least detectable submarine it has ever built.
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