Posted on 07/21/2005 7:52:55 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Nuclear-sub project gathers steam
RAJAT PANDIT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005 10:31:22 PM ]
NEW DELHI: By the end of this decade, India should have a fully-operational nuclear submarine of its own. The Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to build a nuclear-powered, guided-missile attack submarine is now on track after years of technical glitches and design problems.
"The first functional ATV should be ready for trials by 2007-08. The technical problems, including fitting a miniaturised pressurised water reactor (PWR) and its containment vessel in the submarine’s hull, have more or less been sorted out,"says a top source.
Sources add that the two heavily-guarded ATV project complexes at Vishakapatnam naval dockyard, where the basic submarine structure is being fabricated, and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam, where the PWRs are being tested, are witnessing a flurry of activity these days.
The project has been shrouded in secrecy ever since it was formally launched in 1983, with successive governments either denying its very existence or being deliberately vague about it.
Interestingly, one of the grounds for sacking Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat as the Navy chief in December 1998 was his expression of concern, in public, for the slow progress of the ATV project.
Apart from the Navy, which operated a leased Russian nuclear submarine ‘INS Chakra’ from 1988 to 1991, a whole host of agencies ranging from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre to the Defence Research and Development Organisation are involved in the hush-hush project.
Russia, too, is providing technical help to the project in the form of PWRs and vessel designs.
Compared to conventional submarines, nuclear-propelled submarines can operate at higher speeds for virtually unlimited ranges, without surfacing to recharge batteries, apart from carrying a larger arsenal of weapons.
Faced with an ageing fleet of 16 conventional diesel-electric submarines, coupled with the government decision to now renegotiate the French Scorpene project due to cost-escalation, a successful ATV project can bring good cheer to the Navy.
India, of course, eventually plans to arm nuclear-powered submarines with nuclear-tipped missiles since they provide the most effective and secure platform for a second-strike capability.
The Navy is also keen to lease another nuclear submarine from Russia as soon as possible to regain the skills learned while operating 'INS Chakra', before it inducts the ATV.
Most of the personnel trained on 'INS Chakra', a "Charlie-I"or "Skat"class guided missile submarine, which was also based at the Vishakapatnam naval dockyard, have since retired.
"Skat" class?
Better watch the "more or less" part when dealing with reactors & nuke subs. Baby steps are better than bold leaps when dealing with such sophisticated systems. This sounds like a "test bed" which is the correct approach.
Heh, not very accurate but makes a helluva mess...
Project 670 Skat / Charlie I
Project 670M Skat-M / Charlie II
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/670.htm
These subs were cruise missile boats ,not classical attack subs.There is little chance that the Indian ATV will have a lot of commonality with the Charlie/Skat.
There are lots of rumours that the ATV will probably be a modification of the Russian Akula class attack submarine with vertical launch tubes & Israeli electronics systems added.The Russians dangled the carrot of leasing India 2 N-subs if it purchased an aircraft carrier from them.That deal has been sealed,so the Akulas may well be on their way.
Thanks for the reminder. I had heard about that 'Akula' deal last year, but nothing since then. India should have an indigenous design though. Run the Akulas until they need re-coring, then turn them back or retire them in favor of a fully-fledged Indian design. Plus, you get a trained cadre of nuke sailors & officers in the bargain. Like the naval aviator training here in US, it all makes perfect sense for a friendly global power on the make.
I think your point is cause for a disagreement between India & Russia.The Russians want India to buy the 2 boats they are offering after the initial lease period(5 years or so),while the Indian side prefers to return it.The Russians can't in any case afford to maintain these boats when they are returned!!
I suppose the Russians could simply 'refuse delivery' when the leases are up and leave India with the decommissioning costs?! Tag, your IT.
Watchout CHINA....
...........HERE THEY COME
Steely-eyed Killers of the Deep
(((PING!!)))
Oh goody--does this mean that when they need technical support with their nuclear reactor they'll "outsource" us?
//Hello, thank you for calling Naval Nuclear Reactor Support...please press "1" if you're experiencing a meltdown, press "2" if you just scrammed due to your own incompetence during PM's, and press "3" if NR is coming aboard and you need some help on how to bullshit them into believing you know more than you really do....
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