Revision as of 21:25, 15 August 2013

India's submarine fleet

The Times of India 2013/08/

An ageing submarine fleet

The Times of India 2013/08/15 Aging subs going the MiG-21 way? Rajat Pandit | DEFENCE EDITOR

The Navy was to induct 12 new diesel-electric submarines by 2012, with another dozen to follow in the 2012-2030 timeframe. This was the 30-year submarine building plan approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) way back in July 1999. But the Navy has not inducted even one of the 24 planned submarines till now, and is forced to soldier on with just 14 aging conventional vessels.

Sources said INS Sindhurakshak, after the Aug 2013 accident, is “a clear write-off ’’. Of the 13 submarines left now, as many as 11 are over 20 years old. The setback comes when China and Pakistan are systematically bolstering their underwater combat capabilities, with the former being armed with over 55 submarines.

‘Aging underwater arm a worry’

The navy is steadily modernizing in the surface warship and aircraft arenas. But our aging and depleting underwater combat arm is a big worry. But it also must be kept in mind that INS Sindhurakshak’s accident is the first such incident we have had in over four decades of operating submarines,’’ said a senior officer.

India’s four German HDW or Shishumar-class submarines were inducted between 1986 and 1994, while eight of the 10 Russian Kilo or Sindhugosh-class vessels were inducted between 1986 and 1991. The last two Russian submarines — INS Sindhurakshak and INS Sindhushastra —were inducted in 1997 and 2000, respectively.

Even CAG reports have alarmingly held that the operational availability of the Indian submarines is as low as 48% due to the aging fleet and prolonged refit and life-extension programmes. With the design life of a submarine being 25-30 years, projections show just six-seven of the existing submarines will be fully operational by 2020.

Successive governments’ sheer inability to take decisions in time and gross project mismanagement — with inevitable huge cost escalations — has led to this dismal situation. The first of the six new Scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon Docks will be ready only by 2016-17 at the earliest, over four years behind schedule. The other five — under this Rs 23,000 crore programme called “Project-75” — are scheduled to progressively follow by 2020-21.

The next six of the remaining 18 submarines are yet to be even ordered. Despite being granted “acceptance of necessity” in November 2007, “Project-75India” to construct six advanced stealth submarines, armed with both land-attack missile capabilities and airindependent propulsion for greater underwater endurance, is still stuck in political apathy and red-tape.

Another critical concern is that the navy has rudimentary submarine rescue facilities. The force’s endeavour to procure two deep-submergence rescue vessels (DSRVs) or “mini submarines”, which “mate” with disabled submarines underwater to rescue trapped sailors from depths up to 610 metres, has been stuck for over 15 years.

The navy does have diving support ships like INS Nireekshak to help in such situations, but they are useful at relatively shallow depths.

SUB FLEET IN BAD SHAPE

By 2013, 63% of India’s subs eligible to be retired: CAG

11 of 13 remaining subs are over 20 years old. A sub is expected to have a life of about 25 years

Project of building six Scorpene subs already 4 years late

Building of 6 stealth subs yet to take off. It will take over 10 years for the first to roll out

Not even 1 new sub inducted despite 1999 plan of 12 new subs by 2012, another 12 by 2030

Even if some Scorpene subs are commissioned by 2020, India will be short of minimum 18 needed

INS SINDHURAKSHAK

Explosions within the ill-fated submarine led to its sinking in August 2013

1997 | Indian navy inducts INS Sindhurakshak, one of 10 in Kiloclass submarines bought from Russia between 1986 & 2000

February 2010 | Fire in its battery compartment kills one sailor

August 2010 | Submarine goes for re-fit to Russia’s Zvezdochka dock. Is equipped with cruise missile systems

Jan 2013 | Refit completed

April 27, 2013 | Sub reaches India

August 14, 2013 | Sub sinks following massive explosion and fire with [18] and officers trapped inside

The submarine had suffered two explosions in 2010 in which one sailor was killed and two others injured. The 2010 accident was caused by rising hydrogen levels while its batteries were being recharged. The Navy chief said on 14 Aug 2013 that the sub’s batteries had been charged three days before.