Indian nuclear submarines

[Vladimir79]

Then what about a ssgn programme. Will the russians guard the reactors of nerpa2 just like charlie class subs, or will be able to examine them, or do v have to wait ten years buy and see them.

What are you saying? Russia helped design Arihant's reactors which are based on Charlie II.

What did we tell you about the SMS speak? How hard is it to write out we?

 

[p2prada]

What are you saying? Russia helped design Arihant's reactors which are based on Charlie II.

Russia helped design the Hull and other systems. The reactor design is indigenous, as told by BARC Chairman.

 

[Vladimir79]

Akula II is a 12,000 tonne class SSN and Arihant is a 6000 tonne class SSBN....I dont even see the slightest similarities in both the design...Perhaps they meant the propeller or something...

If the quoted stats of Arihant are correct, there is no way it can be based on Akula design. It is clearly in the realm of Charlie II. It also makes sense that it would be since that is the only nuklear sub India has had a hands-on chance to study.

 

[Vladimir79]

Russia helped design the Hull and other systems. The reactor design is indigenous, as told by BARC Chairman.

Russian consultants helped designed every major system of Arihant, including the reactor. Even DAE admits it was with Russian help.

Nuclear Heart of INS Arihant IDRW.ORG

 

[RAM]

Indigenous nuclear submarine in two years: Navy chief

NEW DELHI: India's first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, will be inducted into the Navy fleet in two years. "INS Arihant will be inducted into the Navy in two years or so," Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters here ahead of the Navy Day on December 4.

However, Verma refused speak about Russia leasing out its Akula-II 'Nerpa' nuclear-powered submarine to India for 10 years. "I have no response for that," he said to queries on when Nerpa would join the Indian Navy.

Arihant, the first submarine under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme, was launched for sea trials on July 26 this year at a naval yard in Visakhapatnam by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gurcharan Kaur.

"It (Arihant) demonstrates a quantum leap in the shipbuilding capabilities of the country. It is a nuclear- powered submarine, which is indigenously designed and constructed," Verma said.

The endurance of the submarine was only limited by the endurance of the crew, food and provisions that it could carry, he said.

The submarine is now undergoing wide-ranging trials in harbour to prove that the various systems fitted on board perform as per their design. This would be followed by extensive sea trials before it is commissioned into the Navy

Indigenous nuclear submarine in two years: Navy chief - India - The Times of India

 

[bengalraider]

from chindits blog

Met ATV officers today, who gave an idea about the reactor and the safety mechanisms inside the submarine. The reactor of the 'indigenous' INS Arihant, bought from the Russian OKBM through Rubin, located in the sixth compartment of the 8-compartment hull of the nuclear submarine, will get started in about a month's time. The reactor controlled by the CRDM--Controlled Red Drive Mechanism, has got neutrons seperated from the fissionable material by cadmium rods, which are removed when the reactor is to be started, and thus the reactor or the heart of the submarine begins, thereby beginning the electricity, and all other operations of the submarine.

All those working around the submarine are supposed to wear dose recording meters,. to record how much radiation has gone into the body and if it is not within permissible limits, the personnel will be removed from the site.

There are other gadgets also to be worn at all time by those inside the sub.

The submarine has lead, concrete pipes inside to control radiation. Also, I was told, that out of the alpha, beta and gamma radiation, the most dangerous are gamma radiations. Out of the eight compartments in the ATV, only the 6th is which requires utmost care, While one by one each of the compartments get ready to activate, I am getting ready to recieve exclusive pictures for the first time of the actual ATV in harbour action, to be put up here soon. Keep watching.

Chindits: Reactor safety of Arihant

Interesting stuff from chindits, but i am unsure as to whether we should take her word on it.

 

[s_bman]

The reactor of the 'indigenous' INS Arihant, bought from the Russian OKBM through Rubin, located in the sixth compartment of the 8-compartment hull of the nuclear submarine, will get started in about a month's time.

have we bought reactor.............thought it was locally developed???

 

[bengalraider]

The reactor of the 'indigenous' INS Arihant, bought from the Russian OKBM through Rubin, located in the sixth compartment of the 8-compartment hull of the nuclear submarine, will get started in about a month's time.

have we bought reactor.............thought it was locally developed???

BARC has developed the reactor according to previous reports , i don't know whether chindits is right on this.

 

[RPK]

Chindits: Exclusive: ATV's 20 Percent Criticality Certification Completed, Reactor To Begin In A Year !

Twenty percent of the safety and criticality certification of the country's first ever indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, has taken place, of the 100 odd systems which need to be certified by nuclear agencies before the propulsion system of the submarine begins functioning. Complete certification of all systems will take more than a year. The tests are being carried out at the Vishakhapatnam-based Ship Building Center.

Sources have confirmed to People's Post that the safety aspect of all the systems of the submarine are being tested in harbour before the reactor is switched on, so as to avoid any mishap, which is the normal practice worldwide.This safety certification would be given by the Russian OKBM, BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Center) and naval agencies dealing with nuclear technology. Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, said earlier this month that INS Arihant would be operational in two years, which implies that the reactor of the submarine would be put to test before she sails out to sea for sea trials.

Systems like cooling, safety, turbines, gear box, criticality of the fission material in the reactor, functioning of the compartments under radiation pressure will all be tested. Flushing, a phenomenon of cleaning any foreign particle which might obstruct the fission of the reactor, is being carried out, an officer told People's Post.

The reactor of the 'indigenous' INS Arihant, bought from the Russian OKBM through Rubin, located in the sixth compartment of the 8-compartment hull of the nuclear submarine, will get started once the clearance comes, said an officer, adding that before that nothing could be done, and the real trials would begin once the reactor begins, but all safety aspects have to be kept in mind. The reactor controlled by the CRDM--Controlled Red Drive Mechanism, has got neutrons seperated from the fissionable material by cadmium rods, which are removed when the reactor is to be started, and thus the reactor or the heart of the submarine begins, thereby beginning the electricity, and all other operations of the submarine. Vice Admiral B Kannan, heading the project, has admitted that the submarine is 40 percent indigenous while Russian help has been taken for the remaining 60 percent.

All those working around the submarine are supposed to wear dose recording meters,. to record how much radiation has gone into the body and if it is not within permissible limits, the personnel will be removed from the site.

There are other gadgets also to be worn at all time by those inside the sub.

The submarine has lead, concrete pipes inside to control radiation. Also out of the alpha, beta and gamma radiation, the most dangerous are gamma radiations, explained a Naval engineer. Out of the eight compartments in the ATV, only the 6th is which requires utmost care, While one by one each of the compartments get ready to activate thereby putting the ATV in harbour action, the crew working in different sections on teh submarine, will be put at risk, once the nucleus of the submarine begins..

Originally called Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV), the submarine was launched for harbour acceptance trials on July 26, 2009, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and only after all systems are tested and certified and the reactor put through safety tests, will the sea trials begin, which might take more than a year. The project Director General is retired Vice Admiral DSP Varma. The project, falling under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), has suffered from a record delay -- it has run for over 35 years and has consumed more than at least Rs 5,500 crore.

 

[neo29]

Guys i gotta doubt . arihant is based on charlie class. doesnt charlie class subs come under 2nd generation. so did we build arihant on 2nd generation nuclear subs ????
akula being 4th generation we shud have atleast made arihant in 3rd generation.
we did get help from russians to make arihant so it was possible to make it 3rd gen.

 

[p2prada]

Guys i gotta doubt . arihant is based on charlie class. doesnt charlie class subs come under 2nd generation. so did we build arihant on 2nd generation nuclear subs ????
akula being 4th generation we shud have atleast made arihant in 3rd generation.
we did get help from russians to make arihant so it was possible to make it 3rd gen.

The definition of generations in submarines is different from aircrafts. Eg: You can say HF-24 marut was our first gen aircraft, LCA is our second and MCA is our third.

Similarly, ATV will be our first generation sub with AKula type technology. Don't forget that the Russians were involved in the project. They have helped us build something better than the Charlie and something as good as the Akuls II.

 

[RPK]

fullstory

'2 yrs for Arihant's induction in operational roles'


New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) The indigenously-built nuclear submarine INS Arihant will take another two years to be inducted in operational roles, a top military official said.

"Arihant, of course, will take about two years of trials before she is inducted in the Navy," Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said in an interview for the forthcoming issue of defence journal Indian Defence Review.

Verma said the Navy and the DRDO were looking into the challenges such as "proving of the new technology, getting the submarine fully operational, developing doctrines and procedures" for the induction of Arihant.

"We are actively working on all these issues, and more, to ensure that we have a credible deterrent in the form of Arihant and follow-on submarines," he said.

Verma said that India will learn a lot by operating the Arihant as it will "provide valuable inputs" for the indigenous nuclear submarine programme.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Indian Subs/ATV

Indian submarine details and comparision

 

[gb009]

In the above picture endurance of Arihant is mentioned as 25 years, is this true? I remember reading some where that the fuel used in Arihant is not as enriched as that used in current US/Rissian SSBNs because of which it will have to back in the dock once in every 7 years or so for fuel replacement, which could take as much as an year (as they would have to cut open the hull to change the fuel rods).

 

[ppgj]

Vice Admiral Promod C Bhasin

Published :January 2010

India Strategic recently interviewed this distinguished officer of the Indian Navy. Admiral Bhasin was involved with India’s secret Nuclear-power submarine project ATV or Advanced Technology Vessel from its inception.

Vice Admiral Promod C Bhasin (Retd) PVSM AVSM

Born in 1944 in Lahore, Admiral PC Bhasin’s family suffered the travails of the India-Pakistan partition and migrated to Amritsar in 1948 where his father practiced as an Advocate. Educated at Royal Indian Military College, Dehra Dun, PC, as he is known to friends, joined the Navy through the National Defence Academy in 1964 and completed a record 45 years service, before hanging up his boots which included training in Netherlands and Russia.

He has held some very critical and forward looking appointments.

As a young officer, he pioneered missile preparation in the Indian Navy for the 1971 war and billets at sea. Adm Bhasin served as Project Director and Director General of the ATV programme, a misnomer for India’s nuclear submarine, for 8 long years to cut the steel for the submarine at Vishakapatnam, steer the rolling in of the aggregate, joining of the submarine blocks and outfitting and pre-installation of internal equipment which is the normal construction cycle of nuclear submarines.

Earlier Directors General of the ATV project, Vice Admirals MK Roy, B Bhushan and RN Ganesh, deserve credit for the planning and Admiral Bhasin for the execution of the project. In the Navy’s close circles, he is nicknamed India’s Rickover, after the famous Admiral who steered the US Navy’s large Nuclear Submarine programme.

India Strategic. Admiral Bhasin, you have had a remarkable career of 40 years in the fine Indian Navy in Uniform and then 5 long years as a Secretary to the Government of India in a special project. This is a tremendous record. Please comment.

Adm Bhasin. I was commissioned on 1st January 1964 and I want to say I wore the naval uniform in service of my country with pride and satisfaction, both in peace and war. And I hope I made some contribution to the rise of the Indian Navy which I think will be a very important factor to the future of India. I hung up my white double braided Vice Admiral cap as Chief of Material (COM) after 40 years and that is highest rank a technical branch officer can aspire for. I transferred to the classified Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) project under the DRDO, in a civilian capacity as Director General, and having worked there as Project Director ATV earlier, it was a smooth transition. I was familiar with all the multi-disciplined Indian and Russian agencies involved in the challenging task India had taken on.

India Strategic Could you recall your early appointments after you were commissioned in to the Indian Navy as part of the 22th NDA Course as an Electrical Officer and your experience of being deputed to the Soviet Union for the Killer Osa Missile Boats, which did India proud on 4 December 1971 by their daring attack on Karachi.

Adm Bhasin. My appointments began on board INS Vikrant as an Assistant Electrical Officer and that makes you think big, which is boon the Indian Navy is endowed with. Then at a young age, I was appointed Electrical Officer of INS Cauvery 1967-69. That was an independent charge that gives one a lot of self confidence. Then I was deputed to Vladivostok in the Soviet Union for Missile Boat Training and missile mainatnence and readiness under Late Vice Admiral B Madholkar. It was a very gruelling period living on an in the island in cold climes, and eating different foods but professionally gratifying as on return I was appointed to INS Tunir off Mumbai and we were able to arm the missile boats from TP for the 1971 war successfully.

India Strategic. You also were also appointed to London in the 1970s as an Assistant Naval Attaché for 3 years in the Indian high Commission there. India had received warships from UK and the Leander project was the pride of India. What are your recollections and do you see that leading up to the Indian Navy coming up to Western Naval standards?

Adm Bhasin. I served in the Indian High Commission at Aldywch, London for three years under then Rear Admiral RKS Ghandhi and Cmde CL Sachdeva and you have put it rightly. The Indian Navy was transforming rapidly with technological induction of new Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, SATNAV and Command and Control systems. We were able to help the Naval headquarters (NHQ) with decision making. Admiral Ghandhi, having served as ADC to Lord Louis Mountbatten, was an added plus to open doors in the UK Admiralty. I gained a lot.

India Strategic. How many appointments did you serve in NHQ before being promoted to Rear Admiral and how challenging was it as the Indian Navy had really taken large strides in technology and missiles. It is said that the new generation technical officers with M Techs degrees from IITs and WEESE helped make the change swiftly.

Adm Bhasin. I was lucky to serve as Deputy Director Weapons Equipment (WE) which is a crucial directorate for selection and commissioning of equipment, and then Director Ship Production (DSP). They are both futuristic directorates in the mainstream of the Navy. And yes, the quality of technical officers very much improved with all technical officers being encouraged to qualify for M Tech from IITs and other technical institutions. The exposure and competition with younger civilians in academic atmosphere and yet in uniform contributed to making the Navy techno-savvy. The Weapons Electronics Engineering Systems Establishment (WEESE), the Navy’s mini research centre in New Delhi, was a great support to mix and match various western and Soviet systems on all our frontline ships.

India Strategic You were Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard (ASD) handling Asia’s largest warship repair yard and then associated with the ATV Project for many years. Though many issues are still classified, the launch in July 2009 and has made the project public. It is said that the ATV project has really been a great partnership between the Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Bhabha Atomic Research centre (BARC), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Indian Industry with full Russian support. Could you elaborate on the project within the bounds permitted as Industry and foreign partners are privy to many details?

Adm Bhasin. I was ASD from 1989 and it is a humbling experience to get productivity and operational availability for ships from the large civilian and uniformed workforce of a couple of thousands. But you must know that very high standards and systems, including for civilian designations of General Managers for naval officers, have been put in place by my predecessors with outside studies. So all one can do is maybe to improve upon them, and lead the teams with good morale and understanding which is what leadership is all about. I had also worked on the degaussing ranges in Goa, a new thing for the Indian Navy and CSO (Tech). All this helped when I became Project Director ATV and later DG ATV under DRDO heads, including Dr APJ Kalam. I must say they delegated a lot and supported the most challenging project. My ATV team was also allowed to conceive and steer the underwater missile which is an achievement we will be proud of when it is operational.

India Strategic. How satisfied are you with your long and amazing career which many say is like Admiral Rickover’s of USA as you ordered and supervised the cutting of steel of the ATV nuclear submarine and it became a submarine hull in four years ready for launch?

Adm Bhasin. No Rickover please, but it has been a satisfying career seeing the Indian Navy join the ranks of advanced technological navies and it is all team work with all agencies. But anyone who oversees a nuclear submarine from keel laying, section building and joining, and fitting out a submarine and its reactor in the dry dock and to see her grow into a ready hull for launching with almost daily challenges, can be trying but at the end of the day it gives pride. Nuclear submarine building and nuclear work involves dealing with the beuracrcy in India and Russia, scientists from many walks of life, industry, skilled labour and goading (many of) them on.

India Strategic. Tell us something of your family, and aspirations after retirement and plans for the future.

Adm Bhasin. I come from a middle class family and my wife is religiously inclined and has seen tough separations and brought up two children who are married and settled. She supported me all along. I guess I am fit and hope to work in any technical capacity I can.

India Strategic. Singapore’s long serving Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew took up Golf as a sport and advocates one must keep working on, till one can, to live long. You play golf and we would like your views on Mr Lee’s observation as you also read avidly.

Adm Bhasin. I think the sport of golf is a great leveller, and it bonds players and is the best sport for long and old age companionship. So I play regularly, and enjoy the game both as a sport and for its competitive ways. You don’t need muscles but an attitude, mental strength and adapt a rhythm to play golf which you can see has encouraged 18 golf courses to come up in the National Capital Region (NCR) around Delhi. I hope the Indian Navy also gets a course. As one gets older, I think moderation, keeping busy with what you enjoy and inquire all the time and work without straining should be one’s endeavour. I think that is what PM Lee has said in his memoirs, quoting that his father worked daily in a jewellery shop till 80, as he enjoyed it and kept busy.

India Strategic.Thank you Admiral, India Strategic has enjoyed interviewing you and getting your wide ranging views which I am sure will goad young naval officers to emulate as we learns all officers in the Navy coming out of the Naval Academy will now have BTech degrees.

© India Strategic

http://indiastrategic.in/topstories469.htm

 

[plugwater]

Arihant to be armed with ballistic missiles

The man steering India’s highly classified nuclear-powered submarine programme has acknowledged for the first time that the warship will be armed with ballistic missiles.

Vice-Admiral D.P.S. Varma (retd), Director General, Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) project, told HT at DEFEXPO-2010, “The K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles jolly well be there on INS Arihant when it is inducted into the Navy. The N-sub should hopefully be with the Navy by the end of 2011.”

The K-15 missile, a closely guarded DRDO secret, is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead up to 700 km. With 12 ballistic missiles in its arsenal, the Arihant will complete the sea-leg of India’s nuclear triad and give it enduring nuclear strike and counter-strike capabilities. India can carry out nuclear strikes with fighter planes and land-launched missiles.

Asked how work on Arihant was shaping up, Varma said, “We are on track. But the proof of the pudding lies in the eating. So we will know when the Navy inducts it.”

The usually tight-lipped Varma said India’s submarine fleet should have five to six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. He said plans were afoot to build two more nuclear-powered submarines to reinforce India’s strategic deterrent force at sea. He said, “We have to cross a certain milestone before going into specifics.”

Larsen & Toubro, which built the hull for Arihant, has fabricated the hulls for the new N-subs. The United States, Russia, the UK, France and China are the only countries that can deliver nuclear warheads from a submarine.


http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-...-with-ballistic-missiles/Article1-509620.aspx

 

[sayareakd]

Lot of confusion about Arihant, we dont know if it is TD, experimental or will be operational nuclear sub.

If it is our third leg of deterrent then things should be very clear from the start.

 

[gogbot]

Lot of confusion about Arihant, we dont know if it is TD, experimental or will be operational nuclear sub.

If it is our third leg of deterrent then things should be very clear from the start.

Its a TD but at the same time, an operational combat vessel.

The real Arihant Sub's (under construction) will be larger and better then the INS Arihant.

Look at it this way INS Arihant is your Nuclear sub on training wheels. Nothing too fancy, an attempt to get the core technologies working together as a combat vessel.

But none the Less INS Arihant is the template on which the bigger and better Vessels that will one day make up the core of India's Arihant class submarines.

 

[anoop_mig25]

Its a TD but at the same time, an operational combat vessel.

The real Arihant Sub's (under construction) will be larger and better then the INS Arihant.

Look at it this way INS Arihant is your Nuclear sub on training wheels. Nothing too fancy, an attempt to get the core technologies working together as a combat vessel.

But none the Less INS Arihant is the template on which the bigger and better Vessels that will one day make up the core of India's Arihant class submarines.

u are confusing me here is arihant nuclear submarineor not ?what is td?and if real arihant is under construction then wy we made hoooooooo lal of it and 3> i what to know it said its nuclear reactor and other systems were not included at the time of the submarine's then how is running 4>The INS Arihant will be more of "a technology demonstrator", rather than a fully-operational SSBN according to Admiral verma? and last it siad that its nuclear reactor would onle be 30% critical rather than 90%.russian advanced submarines nuclear reactor are 50% critical (i guess) while that of american is 90%. i want to ask if we have have working knowledge of nuclear reactor then why its only 30% critical?

PS:-IF i am wrong some where then plz pardon me as i not very well versed with working knowledge OF defence equipments

 

[Sridhar]

Arihant to be armed with ballistic missiles