Indian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
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No, these are separate. Arihant-class is an SSBN while these are SSN.
I will speak out the detailed IN submarine plan for the future for the members here...
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1. SSNs
The future submarine plan of the Indian Navy will ultimately be centered around the nuclear fleet...with anywhere
between 9 to 18 Nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), 6 of which are mentioned in the article. These could be developed
from one of three possible designs...
1) Based on French DCNS Barracuda-class SSN
2) Largely downsized design version (to fit the requirements) of Russian Akula-type
3) Slightly downsized Arihant design
Either options 1 or 3 are most likely to be exercised. 1 if they want ultra-modern innate design capabilities, or 3 if
they choose maximum commonality & heavy cost-saving. Either way, the final design is likely to have around 5,000 tons
displacement. These 'between 9 to 18' SSNs will be tasked with truly a huge responsibility...including protection & escort for
the 3 Carrier Battle Groups which are envisaged, protection & escort for the SSBNs & SSGNs, and patrolling of the length
and width of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Russian Akula-II which has been leased will be used only for training purposes for nuclear submarine crews
over the next couple of years (extension of lease period also possible).
2. SSBNs
The SSBN fleet, geared to offer a true second-strike capability against all potential adversaries, will be
made up of 3 x "S-5" class SSBNs, unofficially called Avinash-class. These will have displacements in the region
of 17,000-20,000 tons and be equipped with atleast 12 x K-5 SLBMs (upto 24 silos possible, but not sure) with atleast
6,500km range and MIRV technology. The precursor to the ICBM-ranged K-5, the Intermediate-range K-4 SLBM was recently
tested off Odisha coast.
These 3 SSBNs could share similarities with some Russian Delta-series SSBN designs, although the actual
workings could be entirely different. So far, technology development of these subs has begun, the SBC
at Vizag on the east coast should get down to building these along with the SSNs as soon as the last Arihant-class
submarine rolls out.
Once these 3 dedicated SSBNs are delivered & made operational, the 3 Arihant-class SSBNs will undergo a
massive change, turning them into ...
3. SSGNs
...the Arihants will be stripped of their second-strike/strategic deterrence role and be equipped with Nirbhay
and BrahMos cruise missiles to be used in a more tactical support kind of role as SSGNs. The SLCM versions of
both Nirbhay & BrahMos have been envisaged (with the latter already having been tested successfully from an
underwater pontoon) to this effect.
Each of the 4 silos on Arihant will be able to carry 5 x Nirbhay LACMs or 3-4 x BrahMos ASCMs, while the
Nirbhays can also be carried & launched through the torpedo tubes (the recently shown posters of BrahMos-Mini
state clearly that it can also be fired through TTubes, but not sure if this will be used on these SSGNs).
A combination of Nirbhay and BrahMos will be carried.
4. SSKs
The future acquisitions in this department will be the 6 Scorpene-class (where another 3 could be added,
this batch with either the new fuel cell-based MESMA AIP or the Kockums Stirling AIP, or even the indigenous
fuel cell AIP being developed by DRDO, if it's ready by then). Another 6 advanced AIP-based SSKs are being
evaluated under Project-75I, where the likely winner, on commonality grounds, could be the S80 Super Scorpene,
which could also be equipped with the same AIP as the +3 batch of Scorpenes. All of these 12-15 SSKs could
be equipped with the same SM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles.
Most of the existing 8 Kilo-class SSKs have already been upgraded with torpedo tube-launched 3M-14E Klub anti-ship/land
attack cruise missiles. New UGM-84L Harpoon Block-II missiles have been contracted for the other 4 Shishumar
(Type-209) SSKs.
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While the future of IN's submarine fleet would be centered around the nuclear power, these nuclear subs themselves
will be centered around the new 180-200 MWe Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), which is currently in technical
design & development phase by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC).
This N-reactor is being developed in various versions of application and is the one earmarked to power all the
future nuclear submarine-classes to be built in India. It is said that, given the large amounts of investment going in
for this project, it may even be the one that could end up powering the much-talked about nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier "IAC-2".
Note : All the above information is gathered through various trusted analysts & defence watchers.
And btw, Hi guys, this is Gessler. My first post here!
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Gesselr, welcome to Sino Defense. Please take time to introduce yourself in the New Member introduction thread.
Now a couple of things for you as a new member.
1st...plewase read the rules of behavior. They are available in almost all of the forums as a sticky thread.
In that regard:
If any of the material you provided was a direct quote from other individuals, articles, etc. (ie. if you cut and pasted any of it, or quoted it), please provide a link back to the source.. SD is a professional forum and we pride ourselves on ensuring that sourced material is documented and properly credited. Any info that you provide here that is a direct quote form another source could be viewed as plagerism and could risk SD hainvg legal action taken against it...and is against the rules.
Well, the INS Chakra is the former Russian Navy K-152 Nerpa, an Akula II class SSN. She is a very, very good boats. The Akula II is probably bested only the US Sea Wolf, the US Virginia, the UKs Astute and the new Russian Yasen classes of nuclear attack submarines.
The Indian Navy leased the Chakra for ten years in 2011. This was after it had undergone extensive trials, been commissioned in the Russian Navy for two years, and after an Indian crew had been trained.
The Indian crew operated the submarine as she traveled to India and the Chakra was commissioned into the Indian Navy in April 2012.
[video=youtube;Hbu7fDzHNG8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbu7fDzHNG8[/video]
The vessel will be used for more than the "next couple of years," as her lease will run until 2021.
She will also do more than train. It is, and will be used, operationally by the Indian Navy, and will be the only vessel capable of providing sub-surface escort to the Vikramaditya now, and later the Vikrant when she is launched and becomes operational.
There are continuing talks between India and Russia regarding the potential lease of a second of these submarines. As an interim step to India building its own SSNs (which will probably take many years to accomplish), I believe that would be a very good move by India. The vessels are very good, the Indians already know how to operate them, and it would give them two vessels for duties in the Indian Navy.
Times of India said:
As to the SSBN and SSGN plans, building a true SSBN is in the best interest of India. A class of vessels with truly ballistic missile reach.
Once that is happening and those vessels begin to commission, converting the Arhihants to SSGN status alos makes good sence. Having a nuclear powered SSGN that can carry up top 20 sub-launched Brahmos missiles, or something similar would be a very powerful weapon.
As stated earlier, please link to a source for those plans. Members here on SD would be very interested in seeing official Indian plans for such a development.
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@Gessler
Thanks for the insights, though I would like to have a source for the number of SSNs that you have provided.
As far as i know Indian Navy was interested to fit VLS BrahMos in Project 75I submarines. If its true then the Russian Amur design will chosen. But then to carry a 3 tonne missile + Weight of VLS will have some adverse effect on the submarine.
Now to SSN, design will be chosen with accordance to whether IN wants a VLS or not. If we are talking about a submarine with no VLS, then for sure it would be an Akula design, with 650mm and 553mm torpedo tubes or only 533mm tubes. Club-S, BrahMos-M, Heavy Weight torpedos will be carried.
Like wise for SSGN they will replace Club-S with Nirbhay.
If the navy asks for a VLS SSGN/SSN then a design based on Arihant would be selected since it would be the only design which would have been tested with VLS missiles. And here their would be no problems of carrying a BrahMos type heavy missile in VLS configuration.
Though next generation submarines ought to have a pumpjet.
To add as a side note even the Arihant's design is a Russian one.
Thanks for the insights, though I would like to have a source for the number of SSNs that you have provided.
As far as i know Indian Navy was interested to fit VLS BrahMos in Project 75I submarines. If its true then the Russian Amur design will chosen. But then to carry a 3 tonne missile + Weight of VLS will have some adverse effect on the submarine.
Now to SSN, design will be chosen with accordance to whether IN wants a VLS or not. If we are talking about a submarine with no VLS, then for sure it would be an Akula design, with 650mm and 553mm torpedo tubes or only 533mm tubes. Club-S, BrahMos-M, Heavy Weight torpedos will be carried.
Like wise for SSGN they will replace Club-S with Nirbhay.
If the navy asks for a VLS SSGN/SSN then a design based on Arihant would be selected since it would be the only design which would have been tested with VLS missiles. And here their would be no problems of carrying a BrahMos type heavy missile in VLS configuration.
Though next generation submarines ought to have a pumpjet.
To add as a side note even the Arihant's design is a Russian one.
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For the potential lease of a second SSN, i don' t think Russian Navy lease one, she have need especially because Yasen are long overdue, also 8 will certainly not in service for 2020, maximum 4, don't disbelieve some ads...
Remains one Akula I, Irbis name ? finished at 60 % build to Komsomolsk but what state is the hull from 20 years ? and this shipyard is capable to finish ?
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Those are the pertinent questions.
India would be willing to fund it...bu they will be wary of initial offers by Russia after the Vikram. If they can get assurances and get a decent deal, they maw well have the Russians complete that one. If they do, I would expect it would be completed to the same standard as the Chakra in terms of systems and armament.
INS Ranjivey Destroyer, Rajput class, now ships of this class with some upgrades have three different
weaponry !
- Ranjit and Rana original weapons 4 x SS-N-2, 2 x SA-N-1 ( 44 miss ), 4 x76, 4 ciws, no hangar for helo...
- Rajput 4 Brahmos replace 2 SS-N-2 and have Dhanush ballistic missile
- Ranjivey and Ranvir 8 Brahmos in one VLS which replace SA-N-1 behind the second fireplace, as we can see in the picture, in more 32 Barak 1 in VLS replace 2 ciws.
If anyone knows where is placed the Dhanush and number, reloads ? interesting.