Indian Nuclear sub may be operational by 2012

The Times of India ^ | 18 Mar, 2007 | Rajat Pandit

[sukhoi-30mki]

N-submarine may be operational by 2012

Rajat Pandit [ 18 Mar, 2007 2329hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

NEW DELHI: After a series of technical hiccups, India's long-running project to build nuclear submarines is finally gaining momentum. As per the revised target, the Navy is likely to get the first such operational submarine by 2012.

Sources said this was the "general assessment" at a top-level meeting to review progress of the hush-hush Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme on Friday, which was attended by defence minister A K Antony, among others.

Though official word is hard to come by on the secretive ATV project, which formally kicked off in 1983 but has made excruciatingly slow progress since then, it's learnt that the first prototype of the nuclear-powered guided-missile attack submarine would be "launched" in the "near future".

"And if there are no more hitches, the first of the two ATVs should be ready for being commissioned into Navy by 2011-2012. The overall project cost has been hiked by 30% to take it to around Rs 14,000 crore, with ultimately five ATVs planned by around 2025," said a source.

The work on the ATV project revolves around the Vishakhapatnam naval dockyard, where the basic submarine hull and structure are fabricated, and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam, where PWRs (pressurised water reactors) for the submarine's propulsion system are tested.

One of the main reasons for the long delay has been the technical problem of designing and fitting a miniaturised PWR and its containment vessel in the submarine's hull. After the PWRs designed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre failed to pass muster, India had turned to Russia for two 90-megawatt PWRs and related parts. There are also some Israeli, French and German imprints in the project.

"There were some problems with the integration of the Russian PWRs also. Work is now going ahead with a mixed design for the propulsion system," said the source.

The entire aim behind the ATV programme is to have nuclear-powered submarines, armed with nuclear-tipped cruise or ballistic missiles, to ensure "credible" second-strike capabilities in consonance with India's "no-first use" nuclear doctrine.

Nuclear-powered submarines have higher speeds and can stay submerged much longer than conventional diesel-electric submarines - which have to surface or snorkel frequently to get oxygen to recharge batteries - and thereby provide a much more invulnerable launch pad for nuclear weapons.

Though India already has nuclear-capable aircraft and mobile land-based missiles like Agni-I and Agni-II, it's hoped the ATV project will finally provide it with the third leg of the nuclear triad.

[Mr. K]

if they can build safe nuke power plants for a ship, why cant we build similar sized ones locally for local power??????

[LibKill]

India has great engineers. We train them here in the USA. Really. I must have known a thousand of them over the last few years.

Fortunately it appears our interests and India's will coincide for the forseeable future. They sure aren't going islamic.

[Skibane]

and thereby provide a much more invulnerable launch pad for nuclear weapons

Either something is "invulnerable", or it isn't. There ain't no such thing as "more invulnerable", just like there ain't no such thing as "more best" or "more most".

BTW, is anyone else wondering if the sub's commissary will serve chutney Slurpees?

[JSteff]

"if they can build safe nuke power plants for a ship, why cant we build similar sized ones locally for local power"

We can, it is the environuts and liberals who don't want nuclear power in the U.S. It is also the large part of the American public who are too stupid to want clean, cost effective nuclear power.

Heck, France gets 80% of their electricity from nukes.
That is why they push so hard for carbon taxes on the rest of the world, because it will cripple us. We are the idiots who refuse to use a technology that we (primarily) developed and perfected.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Asia pinglist

This is to reduce the amount of posted pictures (posting a link instead of the pinglist sign). Does posting lots of pictures make FR more expensive to run?

[ArjMoney]

laugh all you want at your chutney slurpee comment, but the people involved in these subs are probably more focused on their excellent engineering skills than on serving drinks that don't exist. there are plenty of misconceived american stereotypes they could laugh at, but they don't.

BTW my grandfather started the first modern naval lab in India. Indian military people are very, very serious about what they do. as serious as the USMC.

[cmdjing]

Unfortunately for India, seriousness and competency are not the same thing.

[RightWhale]

Nuclear-powered submarines have higher speeds and can stay submerged much longer

In theory. Is this their very first nuclear boat?

[sukhoi-30mki]

Howdy Comrade Jing,how is the copying of Russian technology going?

[sukhoi-30mki]

First home built N-boat.With considerable Russian help.India operated a Russian Charlie class SSGN way back in the 80s.It may also get Akulas on lease in the next few years.

[RightWhale]

I used to do work on nuclear subs. About midway between the reactor and the missile tubes. Went forward into the missile tube forest sometimes, but NEVER back to the reactor room. Wrong color badge.