Indian Navy’s First Scorpene Sub Launched

NEW DELHI - May 17, 2015 - PRLog -- According to an item published in the latest issue of Indian Military Review Indian Navy's first Scorpene submarine under Project 75 was undocked, on 6 April, at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in the presence of the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Giving details, the new issue of Indian Military Review, published from Gurgaon  said that the diesel-electric powered Scorpene submarine to be called INS Kalvari, after commissioning, will undergo extensive sea trials before it is cleared to formally join the Indian Navy.

The six French conventional boats were part of the ambitious 24 submarine construction plan conceived in 1999, which has fallen off track for numerous reasons.

Some movement has taken place on the construction of remaining boats under the 24-submarine plan. The government is in the process to finalise domestic shipyards for making the next line of submarines under Project 75A.

Kalvari – a deep sea tiger shark – is a revival of name of first-ever submarine of the Navy which was commissioned in 1967 and de-commissioned in 1996. It is a stealth submarine run on a mix of diesel-electric power, referred to as “conventionally powered” in security circles.

The vessel will now undergo final fitting and testing, including sea trials. It will be inducted into the Indian Navy in 2016. The remaining five boats would be delivered to the Navy by 2020 and would form the core of the Navy’s submarine arm for the next two decades. The submarines would be equipped with anti-ship missiles and long range guided torpedoes along with a modern sensor suite.

For Naval planners, the worrisome part is how China’s submarine fleet – of nuclear powered and conventionally powered – is four times the size of India’s. Indian battle-ready under-sea fleet of diesel electric vessels is now down to 14.

Parrikar asked the defence public sector yards – MDL and Goa Shipyard – to double their production in the coming three years. "I have asked all the defence PSUs to double their production in the next three years," he said.

The minister also said as far as, P75(I) Project was concerned, private players could also be invited for a joint venture, which would help in early completion. P75(I) is the next project of the Navy, under which six submarines will be built in India.

He warned that if the project was not completed within the stipulated timeframe, the defaulting yard would have to pay a penalty. Early completion of the project, on the other hand, would be rewarded with a bonus, he said.

Under serious threat from China’s massive submarine fleet and almost 16 years after the ambitious submarine action plan was announced, India took its first “baby step” in increasing its conventionally powered undersea prowess.In the period, India leased one nuclear powered submarine, the INS Chakra from Russia, while its indigenous nuclear powered submarine, the INS Arihant, is on sea trials, but is yet to join the fleet.

The shipbuilding industry is set for mega business with the government deciding that an ongoing Rs 60,000 crore plan to procure diesel electric submarines will be the last order to go to foreign firms and that all future projects will be designed and made in India.

The government has cleared the project on the condition that all future acquisitions of conventional submarines will be based on an indigenous design and produced at Indian shipyards. The Navy has accordingly initiated a futuristic design plan even though the next batch of conventional submarines under Project 76 would take several more years before a firm order is placed.

Indian firms like Pipavav, L&T and ABG shipyards are set to be the biggest gainers from this decision as public sector shipyards do not have the capacity to match up the demand. Navy officials said that the next requirement under Project 76 would come up towards the end of this decade.

The requirement for warships and submarines in India far outstrips the capacity of public sector shipyards. It is estimated that orders worth Rs 8,47,000 crore will be placed by India in the next 15 years. Private yardswill be in contention for an annual business of Rs 25,000 crore for the next 15 years due to a lack of capacity from the public sector to deliver.

At present, 6 new French origin Scorpene submarines are under construction in Mumbai with the first one set to enter service next year. In addition, India is getting ready to deploy its Arihant class nuclear missile boat towards the end of this year. The Navy is also likely to lease a new nuclear attack submarine from Russia shortly.