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India’s Submarine Saga

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India’s Submarine Saga

New Delhi approved a proposal to purchase six conventional submarines, but given past delays it’s not clear that India’s naval woes will dissipate anytime soon

by Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan

The Indian government has just approved a proposal to purchase six conventional submarines under Project 75 (I). The Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) “approved issue of RFP [Request for Proposal] for construction of six Conventional Submarines under Project P 75 (I) under the Strategic Partnership (SP) Model.”

The construction of the submarines is estimated to cost around $5.9 billion. Singh called it “a landmark approval,” as it is the first case processed under the strategic partnership framework for Make in India projects. He added that this will result in a “tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India.” There can be no doubt about the inordinate delays in this project, considering that this step represents just the RFP approval for an acquisition that was originally sought in the 1990s.

The Strategic Partnership Model (SPM) is a method established under India’s 2020 Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) with the goal of encouraging the Indian private defence sector to manufacture four key types of defence equipment: submarines, fighter aircraft, helicopters, and armoured fighting vehicles /Main Battle Tanks. The SPM is the latest effort by the Indian government to strengthen and transform the India’s domestic defence manufacturing capability, yet another step toward a decades-long pursuit of self-reliance in defence. Under the SPM, the contract will reportedly be given to “a consortium” made up of an Indian submarine builder and a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

India has around 15 conventional submarines in operation, many of which require immediate replacement as they are already obsolete. The Indian Navy also has two nuclear-powered submarines, the INS Chakra (leased from Russia, which is apparently being returned) and the indigenously built INS Arihant. India’s submarine acquisition plans through the earlier Project 75, which was supposed to have been completed by around 2017, have also seen considerable delays. The last three of the six Project 75 Kalvari (Scorpene)-class submarine are expected to enter service only in the next two years.

The plans under Project 75(I) were for India to build another six advanced conventional submarines in collaboration with a foreign manufacturer. Toward the end of 2019, South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering joined the race for the contract against four other contenders: Naval Group (France), Navantia (Spain), Rosoboronexport (Russia), and TKMS (Germany). The Swedish defence firm SAAB was originally a contender for the contract, too, but decided to pull out because of the tedious and impractical conditions attached to the bid, especially as they would have to potentially give up control of the joint venture to their Indian counterpart.

At the beginning of this year, the government shortlisted Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) as partners for submarine manufacturing under the SPM, but the private sector is not pleased with the decision to include MDL because it is a public sector firm which is already engaged in shipbuilding. As next steps, L&T and MDL are to identify their foreign partners as well as come up with technical and commercial proposals. Under the latest acquisition policy, both L&T and MDL can submit multiple submissions by partnering with more than one foreign OEM. This has all the makings of a chaotic and unsatisfactory process, with clear conflicts of interest rising between the two Indian firms and their (potentially) multiple partners.

L&T is reportedly upbeat about the government decision and the SPM approach that provides a level playing field to the domestic private industry. Naval technologies are complex and involve significant R&D investment, and given the paucity of naval manufacturing capacity in the domestic context, the few that have made consistent investments in R&D like L&T stand to gain from the opening up of the sector.

There are other troubles facing India’s submarine indigenization efforts. The last two submarines developed under the earlier Project 75 Kalvari-class (or Scorpene-class) were supposed to be fitted with AIP system. AIP systems allow diesel submarines to stay submerged for much longer. This removes a key vulnerability in diesel submarines: their need to periodically surface. But the slow development of the system by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has meant a significant delay for the Indian Navy’s submarine plans.

After considerable delays, the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of the DRDO demonstrated the indigenously developed AIP system in March this year. But the demonstration took place on a “land-based prototype” and the DRDO has to now develop a “marinized” AIP system, that can be deployed on submarines to function under underwater situations. It is an important technology development but according to reports citing naval sources, the NMRL’s AIP system can be fielded only by 2023-24. This means that the six submarines that will be developed under Project 75 (I) cannot be fitted with the domestically produced AIP system. The naval sources reportedly said that the six new submarines will possibly be fitted with foreign AIP systems, and the DRDO-developed system, “will from 2024-25 onward, be ‘retrofitted’ into six Scorpene submarines,” developed under the older Project 75.

The Indian naval plans face other delays also. The military writer Rahul Bedi points out that there are other significant shortfalls of the Indian Navy including essentials capacities such as “advanced towed array sonars (ATAS) to detect enemy submarines, heavyweight torpedoes to neutralize them, and varied air defence systems, all of which are critical not only to their survivability, but also their overall offensive capability.”

Given these delays, there is little likelihood that the Indian Navy’s submarines woes will end any time soon. This is not something that India’s partners will want to hear either, considering that China’s naval power is growing at an astounding rate.

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’


NEW DELHI: India tested its nuclear capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), designed to have a strike range of 3,500 km, for the second time in six days on Friday. The missile test, as the one conducted on January 19, was undertaken from an undersea platform in the shape of a submersible pontoon off the coast of Andhra Pradesh according to a report by Rajat Pandit of TOI.

The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.

“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.

India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.

Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.

The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.





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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%

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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%


India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade

In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.

The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the upgrade. The upgrade is part of India’s efforts to improve the capabilities of its primary fighter aircraft, it refers to as the “Super Sukhoi”.

This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.

In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.





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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace

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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace


According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

While there is no official confirmation because of the sensitivities involved, documents suggest that the order for the same has already been placed the report further added.
There are nine countries, in turn, which have shown interest in the indigenously-developed Akash missile systems, which can intercept hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a range of 25-km. They are Kenya, Philippines, Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam and Algeria reported TOI.

The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.

Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System

BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.

Akash Weapon System

The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.

The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.

The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.





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