Indian nuclear submarines

'India's secret N-submarine project nearing completion'

BANGALORE: In a boost to India's long-standing aim to have "a nuclear weapon triad", defence minister A K Antony on Wednesday said the secretive

programme to construct indigenous nuclear submarines was on the verge of completion now.

"Things are in the final stage now in the ATV (advanced technology vessel) project. There were bottlenecks earlier...they are over now," said Antony, during the ongoing Aero India-2009 here.

The hush-hush ATV project, a euphemism for the three nuclear-powered submarines being constructed at the Visakhapatnam naval dockyard, has been dogged by a series of technical hiccups since it was formally launched as far back as 1983.

The main problem has revolved around the design of miniature PWRs (pressurised water reactors) and their containment plans for the submarine's propulsion system but sources said such technical problems are a thing of the past now, with a little help from countries like Russia and France.

Sources said there had been some delay in "launching" the first prototype of the nuclear-powered guided-missile attack submarine for sea trials but it would happen soon. Antony, on his part, said, "We will announce it when it is ready."

The Navy hopes to get the first such operational submarine by 2012 or so. Concurrently, DRDO is also working on the K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missile, which will later be integrated with the submarine.

In all, five ATVs are planned under the programme, whose cost is touching around Rs 14,000 crore now, by around 2025.

The entire aim behind the ATV programme is to have nuclear-powered submarines, armed with nuclear-tipped cruise or ballistic missiles, to ensure "credible" second-strike capabilities in consonance with India's "no-first use" nuclear doctrine.

Nuclear-powered submarines have higher speeds and can stay submerged much longer than conventional diesel-electric submarines -- which have to surface or snorkel frequently to get oxygen to recharge batteries -- and thereby provide a much more invulnerable launch pad for nuclear weapons.

Though India already has nuclear-capable aircraft and mobile land-based missiles like the 700-km Agni-I and 2,500-km Agni-II being inducted into the armed forces now, it's hoped the ATV project will finally provide it with the third leg of the nuclear triad.

India, of course, is also trying to sort out the remaining few hitches in leasing the K-152 Nerpa Akula-II class nuclear submarine from Russia for a 10-year period, as reported by TOI earlier.

India and Russia had secretly signed the deal for the Akula lease in January 2004, along with the $1.5 billion package deal for the refit of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and 16 MiG-29K fighters to operate from it.

With the two nations now negotiating the around $2 billion jump in the Gorshkov contract, there is a feeling that Russia is trying to extract more money for the Akula lease also. "We will get the Akula since we have paid money for it. We will use it to train our sailors for the eventual ATVs," said a senior Navy officer.
'India's secret N-submarine project nearing completion'-India-The Times of India

India Today - India's most widely read magazine.

India's indigenous N-sub secret is out
Mail Today Bureau
New Delhi, February 13, 2009

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has added a feather to its cap. It is delivering on schedule— in 2009— India's first indigenously built nuclear powered submarine (SSBN) as it had promised at the beginning of the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) term in office.

The secret of the indigenous nuclear submarine programme seems to be finally out. Defence minister A. K. Antony has confirmed what was being speculated all this while - that the country is ready to launch the third arm of its nuclear triad.

India is getting a batch of submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and submarine- launched cruise missiles (SLCM), ready to wed with the SSBNs, which would presumably be nuclear tipped. This would, in turn, underline the deterrence posture of the nuclear weapons programme providing it a failsafe 'second strike' capability.

But this would also entail fundamental change in the country's nuclear weapons policies for the peculiar nature of nuclear submarine deployment.

A nuclear submarine remains submerged underwater for most of its deployment period thus making communication difficult especially in times of a national emergency.

A nuclear submarine commander is therefore armed with a separate launch regimen that is qualitatively different from those used above ground.

Hence, when India launches its nuclear submarine, reportedly three, it would have to put in place launch codes that would provide a degree of autonomy to the commanders. This, in turn, would change the deployment pattern of at least a portion of the country's nuclear forces to 'ready arsenal'. This would require a political decision.

The Indian development is important in terms of the changing Chinese deployment by which they are modernising their nuclear submarine fleet, putting into waters the refurbished Xia class and a new Jin class.

The country had been working on the submarine, coyly termed Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) since 1985. The design is reportedly based on the old Charlie II- class submarine - a former Soviet make.

The programme was bedevilled with problems in developing a reactor suitable for the platform and then, building a containment vessel for the reactor. The attack submarine design is said to have a 4,000- ton displacement and a single- shaft, home- built nuclear power plant.

The estimated speed of the vessel is 12- 15 knots on surface, and 30- 34 knots submerged.

The reactor is of the pressurised water variety.

The nuclear submarine would beef up the country's presence in the Indian Ocean.

It brings to fruition a programme that was kicked off under the leadership of the late Rajiv Gandhi who had leased a Charlie- class nuclear submarine that was renamed in 1988 as INS Chakra.

India's nuclear submarine plan surfaces

Expressing fears about cross-border terrorism in the wake of the November 26 Mumbai attack and keeping a close eye on China's
military expansion, India announced plans this week to hike its defense budget by 34% to 1.4 trillion rupees (US$30 billion) and last week revealed that its project to build three nuclear-powered submarines is nearing completion.

"Things are in the final stage now in the Advanced Technology Vessel [nuclear-submarines] project. There were [mainly technical] bottlenecks earlier ... they are over now," Defense Minister A K Antony said on February 12.

The Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project is part of India's $3 billion plan to build five submarines and complete what it calls a "triad" of nuclear weapon launch capability - from air, land and sea. India is concurrently developing the K-15 ballistic missile, which can be nuclear-tipped and launched from submarines.

Defense sources have told Asia Times Online that New Delhi has been actively seeking out assistance from France in the implementation of the ATV project, and that Russian engineers are already involved. The sources said that the sea trials of the nuclear-powered submarines should begin this month and that the submarines should be operational within the next three years.

The secretive ATV nuclear backed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) project began in the late 1970's and is being implemented at a secret dry dock in Visakhapatnam, India's Eastern Naval command base. Observers have said that the submarines are a critical addition to India's weapons capabilities.

In a grim reminder of the possible dangers facing India from the sea, India's Naval chief Admiral Suresh Mehta warned this week that terrorists could smuggle "dirty" nuclear bombs via the nation's ports as they lack adequate security measures. Terrorists also used a sea route to infiltrate Mumbai.

Nuclear-powered submarines with their greater speed, power, range and the length of time they can stay submerged compared to conventional diesel-electric submarines are effective for sudden strikes as well as fast and stealthy protection from attacks.

New Delhi has been concerned about Beijing's strengthening of bilateral ties with Islamabad, particularly given recent tension on sea projects such as at the Gwadar port. China has also been developing ties with Sri Lanka and Myanmar to deepen its control over a complex energy-security conflict being aggressively played out in the region.

Given the ongoing tussle between India and China to control the waters of the Indian Ocean, the New Delhi government has been put under tremendous pressure from the navy to ramp up India's sea power. China has already spoken of creating three ocean-going fleets to patrol the areas of Japan and Korea, the western Pacific, the Malacca Strait and the Indian Ocean.

The ATV project has been in the spotlight as India's other attempt to procure a nuclear submarine this year received a setback when Russia "indefinitely" postponed delivery of the Akula-II class Nerpa nuclear submarine, citing incomplete sea trials and a lack of funds.

Further, the Amur shipyard in Russia's far east, where the sub is being built, is yet to finalize a new team following an accident in November in which 20 members were killed. The accident has led Indian media to describe the submarine as "cursed".

India has been looking at developing underseas capabilities to launch nuclear weapons, after gaining some competence in land-based nuclear delivery platforms for the domestically developed ballistic missiles Prithvi and Agni.

India has already developed a submarine-launched supersonic missile, a modification of the BrahMos cruise missiles, an achievement previously limited to only advanced nations such as the US, France and Russia. Ship and land launched versions of the BrahMos are being introduced in the navy and army.

The state-controlled Defense Research and Development Organization is also undertaking a joint development project with Israel Aerospace Industries to develop a surface-to-air missile which can be launched from land and ships.

Upgrade and renovation of India's navy will be an important aspect of India's US$50 billion defense modernization exercise. Under the plan, the projects code named 75 and 76 entail the production of 24 underwater vessels valued at US$20 billion to meet the challenges across the Indian Ocean.

In 2007, construction of the highly-advanced Scorpene submarine began at the upgraded Mazgon Dock in Mumbai as part of a US$3.5 billion deal for six such French submarines. As the Scorpene deal involves transfer of technology, it should be beneficial for both nations as India gains new technology and French firms gain a possible foothold in the big Indian market.

But significant delays are now expected in India's acquisition of the aircraft carriers Admiral Gorskov from Russia and two that are being developed at home. In early 2007, India purchased the 36-year-old US warship the USS Trenton (re-christened INS Jalashwa) with a gross tonnage of 16,900 tons for US$50 million.

The Trenton is the first ever US warship owned by the Indian Navy and the second largest that India possesses after the INS Viraat aircraft carrier. The Indian Navy plans to add 40 new warships to its fleet and the government plans to invest over 500 billion rupees (over US$12 billion) over the next 10 years on warships.

The government has encouraged the private sector to play a bigger role in the nation's defense, and India's largest engineering and construction firm Larsen & Toubro has announced plans to build defense warships and paramilitary vessels at a proposed facility in Tamil Nadu.

After the rude awakening of the Mumbai terror attacks, others branches of the military are also now pushing for more upgrades and additions.

The Indian Air Force, for example, is seeking 42 fighter squadrons up from the current 32 or 33 squadrons (each with 14 to 18 jets), to offset the phasing out of older Russian planes. The army, which has been allocated a large piece of the military outlay, is seeking more tanks and howitzer field guns.

Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan

A Model of an Sub with Brahmos...

This will be a perfect option.:sFun_cheerleader2::sFun_cheerleader2:

For a effective control & monitor of its supply lines, INDIA needs at-least 12 SSBN's supported by another 30 / 35 SSK's, to counter Chinese interference in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal.

The numbers might sound huge, but if compared with the Chinese Sub Fleet, this futuristic projection will still fell short.

Chinese SUB Fleet :
Nuclear-Powered Submarines = 8 no's ( Jin, Shang, Xia & Han Class )
Diesel-Electric Submarines = 56 no's ( Yuan, Kilo, Song, Ming & Romeo Class )

The Indian Navy has to plan now for 2020 or be ready to loose its control to the Chinese.

:vehicle_plane:

Atul I agree with the numbers. But what is there availability rate can you please tell.

nitesh said:

Atul I agree with the numbers. But what is there availability rate can you please tell.

Click to expand...

Dear Nitesh,

Currently INDIA possesses 16 to 18 Sub's :

# Project 641 (Foxtrot) : 2 No's (obselete models)
# Sindhugosh (Kilo): 10 No's (approx)
# Shishumar (Type 209/1500) : 4 no's

Expected to join the fleet from 2012

# Project 75 (Scorpène) : 6 no's

# ATV : 3 no's

More firm Decisions are to be taken for adding additional Sub's.

I personally believe additional 12 / 15 no's of Scorpène or U212 / U214 Attack Submarines should be added in.

(Scorpène will be manufactured at Mazagon Docks so additional no's can be manufactured with out much modifications with the existing setup)

(INDIA Already has the required setup for the German Type U209 at Mumbai's Mazgaon Docks Limited, with a few modifications the Type U214 can easily fit in)

The Russian Akula II can also be an Option... :vehicle_plane:

nitesh said:

Atul I agree with the numbers. But what is there availability rate can you please tell.

Click to expand...

The Project 75 (Scorpène) will start flowing in from 2012 till 2017 ( One in each year).

Atul said:

For a effective control & monitor of its supply lines, INDIA needs at-least 12 SSBN's supported by another 30 / 35 SSK's, to counter Chinese interference in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal.

The numbers might sound huge, but if compared with the Chinese Sub Fleet, this futuristic projection will still fell short.

Chinese SUB Fleet :
Nuclear-Powered Submarines = 8 no's ( Jin, Shang, Xia & Han Class )
Diesel-Electric Submarines = 56 no's ( Yuan, Kilo, Song, Ming & Romeo Class )

The Indian Navy has to plan now for 2020 or be ready to loose its control to the Chinese.

:vehicle_plane:

Click to expand...

Atul sorry I think I have not put my question correctly. You have given the numbers of Chinese subs I request you to please give me details about there availability

nitesh said:

Atul sorry I think I have not put my question correctly. You have given the numbers of Chinese subs I request you to please give me details about there availability

Click to expand...

Am not exactly sure but recollect to have read it some where near to 45% availability. ( will try n post the link stating so )

Off topic post deleted

Please take out all the previous post for comparison purpose to other thread. I will delete them after some time. Let's discuss only about ATV this is becoming a comparison thread

Water trial of indigenous N-sub on August 15

Water trial of indigenous N-sub on August 15 - India - The Times of India

Water trial of indigenous N-sub on August 15


NEW DELHI
: After a series of setbacks, India's hunt for a nuclear submarine has finally gathered steam. For one, the new D-day for 'launching'
first indigenous nuclear submarine 'into water' for preliminary tests has been set for Aug 15.

For another, with a high-level delegation led by defence secretary Vijay Singh currently in Moscow, Russia has now promised to deliver its Akula-II class attack submarine 'K-152 Nerpa' on a 10-year lease to India by the end of this year.

The importance of nuclear submarines cannot be overstated. Unlike conventional diesel-electric submarines, which have to frequently surface to replenish oxygen to recharge their batteries, a nuclear-propelled submarine can operate underwater for virtually unlimited periods of time.

Consequently, when a nuclear-powered submarine is armed with nuclear-tipped missiles, it becomes the most difficult-to-detect-and-target nuclear-capable platform. This is important for India, which has declared ‘no first-use’ nuclear doctrine and hence must have ‘survivable and effective’ second-strike capabilities. Their induction will help India achieve its aim to have an operational ‘nuclear triad’ — the ability to deliver nukes from land, air and sea.

excellent news, must quickly integrate K-15 and Agni-SL version

Agni-3SL Configuration: submarine version

Agni-3A consisting of A2FS(S27), A3CUS(S7), A3SUM(120-14) and MIRV-Mk4 payload.

Height: 12.2 m.

Mass: 38 ton

Performance: 5,200Km (1,400Kg), 7,200Km (1,050Kg), 11,600Km(700kg)

payload: 600 to 3490 KG

Good News

Here is an excellent pdf for nuclear propulsion control with reference to past,present and future projects Excellent photograph of Nerpa I guess a Rare one too with tail sonar gear ..

enjoy ...

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/mragheb/w...wer Engineering/Nuclear Marine Propulsion.pdf

Indigenous nuclear submarine set for Independence Day launch

June 02, 2009, (Sawf News) - India is set to launch its first indigenously built nuclear powered submarine on August 15, Independence Day.

The submarine - being built at Hazira in Gujarat {Isn't it is Vizag} under the secretive 20-year-old ATV project - will slide into the sea but remain docked for some time as its nuclear reactors are fired up and all systems are checked.

The launch of the submarine was earlier scheduled for Republic Day, January 26, 2009, but delayed because of unspecified problems that have now been overcome.

Click to expand...

The ATV will reportedly be equipped with 12 launch tubes of 2.4m diameter each. Initially, each missile tube will likely accommodate 3 0.74m diameter K-15 Saagrika missile. Later the tubes could accommodate the 2.0m diameter Agni IIISL (The submarine launched version of the Agni V / Agni 3+) missiles with MIRV capability.

Click to expand...

This means 36 missiles! or 36 warheads for sure! if we consider 3 ATV's minimum at patrol means 100 warheads only for IN!

ATV to be launched on 26 June

Out of the dock

Sandeep Unnithan
July 2, 2009

Delhi: After a seemingly endless wait, the floodgates in the drydock where India’s first nuclear powered submarine is being built, will finally be opened to the sea. One of the dates being considered for the launch of what is euphemistically called the ‘Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)’ at Visakhapatnam’s Naval Dockyard is July 26.

The date marks Vijay Diwas, the 10th anniversary of the eviction of Pakistani intruders from the Kargil heights. The launch of the 6,000-tonne submarine—for long one of India’s most closely guarded defence secrets—is part of a joint navy and DRDO project to provide a secure secondstrike capability or the ability to launch nuclear weapons from underwater without detection.

The sub (a modified design of Russia’s Charlie class nuclear powered submarine which India leased and used as the INS Chakra for three years) will make India the sixth country in the world to operate an N-sub. The launch is only the first step in a two-year process where the submarine will undergo harbour trials of its nuclear reactor and systems before the vital sea trials. Two more hulls are ready for fabrication at the Shipbuilding Centre, a drydock in the Naval Dockyard.

Click to expand...

Out of the dock: India Today - Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood.
If the news of the other two hulls is true its thrice a reason to celebrate.

Time to cheer up folks Vijay Diwas is about to come!!!

gr8 day, world's smallest N-sub, we are already in the record books.

This is a great news, kudos to you Payeng , I am eagerly awaiting the D-Day, when we will welcome our new baby .

Warm Regards

Image of Charlie Class INS Chakra (Image: Wikipedia)



According to unconfirmed report , ATV is based on Charlie class

Some characteristics of Charlie class:

Propulsion: Charlie 1+2 class: one pressurized water cooled reactor powering two steam turbines delivering 11,185kW (15,000shp) to one shaft.
Speed:

Surfaced: 20knots
Submerged: 24knots
Range: Unlimited except by food supplies
Complement:

Charlie 1 class: 100
Charlie 2 class: 98
Armament: Charlie 1+2 class: 6 533mm (21in) tubes all bow for a max load of 12 torpedoes. Usually a mix of 2 kT anti ship nuclear torpedoes, 2 Tsakra (SS-N-15 Starfish) 15kT anti submarine torpedoes, Charlie 1's with 4 anti ship/submarine HE torpedoes, charlie 2's with 8 anti ship/submarine torpedoes or a total of 24 AMD-1000 ground mines.

(Wikipedia)


Regards