Indian Defense
Why Russia Is Offering India Old Submarines
An Indian Navy Kilo class submarine INS Sindhuvijay in transit
Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh made a low-profile three-day visit to Russia recently. Apart from attending the 325th anniversary of the Russian Navy in St Petersburg on July 25, the trip, according to one source, was “mostly about submarines”. The CNS (Chief of Naval Staff) visited the Zvezdochka shipyard in northern Russia and inspected the progress on the refit of an old Russian nuclear submarine. India and Russia concluded a $3 billion (Rs 22,000 crore) deal in 2019 for an ex-Russian Navy Akula-class nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN), to be called the Chakra-3. The cost covers the SSN’s 72-month refit and ten-year lease.
Another new submarine, the Bratsk, will replace the Chakra-2 which was returned to the Russian Navy after the end of its ten-year lease this year. The submarine’s crew was sent to Russia for training last year. In January 2021, Russian news agency TASS reported that the Bratsk would be delivered to India by the ‘first quarter of 2026’.
Interestingly, the Zvezdochka shipyard made a formal offer for the sale of three Kilo class conventional submarines to India at a token price of one rupee. In a presentation made to Admiral Singh, the Russian side said it wants India to pay only for the approximate $250 million refit cost of each boat (Rs 1,857 crore). India last opted for this acquisition model when it acquired the mothballed former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov in 2004, for an eventual refit cost of over $2 billion.
The Kilo class submarine is the Indian Navy’s most numerous conventional submarine (SSK) type. It acquired ten units from the Soviet Union and Russia between 1986 and 2000. It is now down to just seven Kilos—one was lost in a 2013 accident, a second unit transferred to the Myanmar Navy last year and a third unit laid up for decommissioning this year.
The Russian offer might appear attractive to the Indian Navy, whose submarine arm is facing a crisis. Decades of indecision and the lack of a clear indigenous build programme have left the Navy critically short of submarines, both conventional and nuclear-powered. It has projected a requirement of 18 SSKs and six SSNs but has only 14 SSKs and no SSNs. It will acquire only three more SSKs this decade and will retire at least four older SSKs. On July 20 this year, India’s defence ministry floated a Request for Proposals (RFP) to build six SSKs in India under the Project 75I (P-75I) conventional submarine project. The RFP, however, is only the start of a long process of evaluating which of the two shortlisted shipyards—Mazagon Docks Ltd or Larsen & Toubro—can be given a contract. It takes six years to build a conventional submarine, and the process leading up to the contract can take as long. Even the most optimistic assessment does not see the first unit being delivered by the end of this decade.
Aware of the delays in the P-75I project, the Navy has, over the last few years, decided to extend the service lives of its existing submarines. It has sent three Kilo class submarines for a second deep refit (most submarines get only one in their service life), which will extend their service lives by 15 years. A fourth submarine is awaiting a decision on a refit.
Three or more second-hand submarines might just bridge the gap this decade. The three Kilos on offer are all over thirty years old are soon to be retired from the Russian Navy but an additional refit can add ten more years to their hull. (Russia has a fleet of 13 former Soviet Kilos built between 1988 and 1990, so more hulls could potentially be on offer.)
Because they belong to a type it already operates, the Navy will not need to create new infrastructure, revise crew training or acquire new missiles and torpedoes. This is perhaps why the Russian offer could be seen as attractive; it is the fastest way to rapidly augment declining force levels.
The flip side of the deal, however, is the age of the boats. At over 30 years each, all the units have passed their technical life of 25 years. Another refit will extend their service lives by 15 years. It could mean diverting money from the Navy’s already scarce capital acquisition budget. The longer the Navy’s other programmes take to deliver submarines, the more attractive the Russian offer will become.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
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.
Indian Defense
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.
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.
Indian Defense
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).
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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