After INS Arihant, Indian Navy considering nuclear propulsion for aircraft carriers

[PARIKRAMA]

Get 3 IAC 1 up and running...
By next 18 months take a decision on IAC2 propulsion and freeze the design and begin the work
If its super carrier and USA helps everything as consultants then expect 2018-19 beginning and sea trials beginning by 2025-26 types
If supercarrier is mostly Indian and USA is outside (no agreements and India building N carrier first time) then work to begin 2018-19 and sea trials in 2028-29

By that time Vikrant class first one handing over can be by 2018 and in 10 years next we should be able to either get 2 more with parallel modular construction or get the second and third can be in advance stages of completion.

If possible, increase the tonnage from 40K to 50K for second and third thereby adjusting 10-15 more Mig fulcrums and make it 40-45 from present 40k tonnes 30 fulcrums,,,,

In simple words 3 CBGs conventional all of IAC1 types and 2 nuke ACCs IAC2 type

BTW, i would prefer SSN/SSBN reactors and fuel consumption via that route over ACCs nuke reactor fuel usage. DOnt get me wrong but first priority should be the SSBN and SSN projects for N fuel. Unless we have already produced enough for 8-10 SSBNs and 8-12 SSN or planned guaranteed production based on as and when constructed....Over and above this strategic requirement we should plan the N-ACC.

Don trust USA as it may be dangling the NACC supercarrier as a carrot to cut down our SSBN/SSN progression...

 

[Oldman1]

Absolutely right, even supporting ships for carriers does require long endurance capabilities. But going for all nuclear carrier battle group won't be an economical option,may be nuclear cruisers are possible but frigates & destroyer will require way small yet powerful nuclear reactors and sadly none except US doesnt have miniaturised nuclear powerplants for surface ships.

Russia has done it. Even built nuclear ice breakers.

 

[raktaka]

Absolutely right, even supporting ships for carriers does require long endurance capabilities. But going for all nuclear carrier battle group won't be an economical option,may be nuclear cruisers are possible but frigates & destroyer will require way small yet powerful nuclear reactors and sadly none except US doesnt have miniaturised nuclear powerplants for surface ships.

When fossil fuel will run out, only nuclear powered ships will rule the waters

Especially if we consider the fact that most Navies are advancing into using Electric drives. I am sure in the future our ships will turn nuclear too.

 

[#hydra#]

Russia has done it. Even built nuclear ice breakers.

I know,but on Kirov class cruiser not on destroyed sized vessels. Even icebreakers are also gigantic one when compared to destroyers.

 

[HariPrasad]

Logical option will be going for another vikrant type ship,the existing infrastructure & working experience in Cochin shipyard can be used for fast delivery of the ship. Mean time we can go ahead with designing our nuclear powered supercarrier as well as our AMCA also,based on indian shipbuilding industry standard design &construction of such a massive vessel will definitely will be time taking process. Even ADA can also comfortably design AMCA in that time frame.

Also any delay on supercarrier won't affect IN much once we have three aircraft carriers at a time.

No with each aircraft we must bring a lots of innovation because these are not small equipment which are build in numbers and you can change the designs easily later on. today we have very favorable international circumstances. If US and russia are ready to help, we must exploit the situations. If we canm bring something like US aircraft career in terms of technology than there is nothing like that. A nuclear powered aircraft will offer a lots of operational flexibility.

 

[CorporateAffairs]

India targets a BLUE WATER NAVY. An estimated 30 warships will be indgeniously built in IN docks in Mumbai, Vizag, Kochi, and other areas.

 

[HariPrasad]

HEU vs LEU

i.e. High Enriched Uranium vs. Low Enriched Uranium

Carrier are much harder to cut and weld back to replace their reactors but I suppose newer design might make provisions for nuclear fuel loading.

Charles de Gaulle for e.g. runs on LEU with 10% enrichment. Chinese nuclear subs run on reactors with around 5 % LEU.

ALL of Indian reactors run on LEU. Even our Thorium fast breeder reactors use LEU.

India has only two enrichment plants. One in BARC which produces approximately 2 kg of HEU every year. The one is at Rattehalli Enrichment Facility in Karnataka. The Fuel for Arihant comes from Rattehalli.

Awesome. Thank you very much.

 

[Oldman1]

I know,but on Kirov class cruiser not on destroyed sized vessels. Even icebreakers are also gigantic one when compared to destroyers.

If they can put a nuclear reactor on a submarine, then they can definitely put one on a ship equivalent to a destroyer.

 

[Abba_Dabba_Jabba]

The new Destroyer can be modified and Arihant reactor can be used in it. If we are going with Nuke AC then we'll have to think of complete CBG not only the AC.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

This is not easy but india has done work on miniature reactor. It can use this experience in Aircraft carrier. It will take time, not easy but possible.