First N-submarine may be operational by 2012

[KashifAsrar]

Todays TOI news.
Kashif

First N-submarine may be operational by 2012

5 Vessels Planned By 2025; Project Cost Hiked To Rs 14,000 Cr


Rajat Pandit | TNN



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 hushhush 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 nuclearpowered 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 nuclearpowered 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.

 

[EagleEyes]

Hey.

Does anyone know which aircrafts in the Indian inventory can carry nuclear weapons? I know a couple of them, but just checking..

 

[Bull]

Hey.

Does anyone know which aircrafts in the Indian inventory can carry nuclear weapons? I know a couple of them, but just checking..

Su 30 MKI/MK/MKK
Mirage 2000
Jaguar

 

[KashifAsrar]

Even Jaguars?
Kashif

 

[Bull]

Even Jaguars?
Kashif

Yes Jaguars too

 

[Adux]

Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)


The nuclear haves are increasingly relying on sea-based nuclear deterrence in preference to land and air segments. India has a number of foreign-produced cruise missile systems in its arsenal, to include Exocet, Styx, Starbright, Sea Eagle, and perhaps the Russian Sunburn supersonic missile. It also has some indigenous cruise missile systems under development to include the Sagarika and Lakshya variant.

The Sagarika (Oceanic) began development in 1994 as a submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) which will have a range of at least 300 kms (a few claim 1000 kms); it was projected for deployment around 2005. The program has met with considerable delays and the missile is not expected to become operational before 2010. Tt will probably arm India's nuclear submarine, the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV).

India is a nation that fights for entering the select group of countries that build nuclear powered submarines. Its program ATV, or Advanced Technology Vessel, was initiated in 1974. But aftre three decades it still had not presented results that could modify the current picture of the navies with nuclear propulsion.

India has been working actively since 1985 to develop an indigenously constructed nuclear-powered submarine, one that was based on the Soviet Charlie II-class design, detailed drawings of which are said to have been obtained from the Soviet Union in 1989. This project illustrates India's industrial capabilities and weaknesses. The secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to provide nuclear propulsion for Indian submarines has been one of the more ill-managed projects of India.

Although India has the capability of building the hull and developing or acquiring the necessary sensors, its industry has been stymied by several system integration and fabrication problems in trying to downsize a 190 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) to fit into the space available within the submarine's hull. The Proto-type Testing Centre (PTC) at the Indira Gandhi Centre For Atomic Research. Kalpakkam, will be used to test the submarine's turbines and propellers. A similar facility is operational at Vishakapatnam to test the main turbines and gear box.

According to some accounts India planned to have as many as five nuclear submarines capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads. The Indian nuclear powered attack submarine design is said to have a 4,000-ton displacement and a single-shaft nuclear power plant of Indian origin. Once the vessel is completed, it may be equipped with Danush/Sagarika cruise missiles and an advanced sonar system. However, according to some analysts the most probable missile for the Indian submarine would be the Yahont anti-ship cruise missile designed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

With the participation he accomplishes of involved Russian scientists and technician in the diverse phases of the program, has possibility of that the first Indian submarine with nuclear propulsion, with 9,400 tons of displacement when submerged and 124 meters of length, can be operational in 2009, will have been launched in 2006-2007.

By 2004 it was reported that the first ATV would be launched by 2007. At that time it was reported that it would be an SSGN and displacing some 6,500 tons, with a design derivative of Russia's Project 885 Severodvinsk-class (Yasen) SSN. The ATV multirole platform would be employed for carrying out long-distance interdiction and surveillance of both submerged targets as well as principal surface combatants. It would also facilitate Special Forces operations by covertly landing such forces ashore. The ATV pressure hull will be fabricated with the HY-80 steel obtained from Russia.

This way would have the possibility of multiple performance: it could use missiles of cruise of average reach (1,000 km), ballistic missiles of short reach (300 km), torpedoes and mines, besides participating of operations special. If it will have success in this taken over on a contract basis, will be valid to assume that the Indian Fleet will count on four to six of these submarines until the year of 2020.




Vessel Type Submarine
Country India
Program Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)
Total Number 4-6
Unit Cost (US$) 1B (Est.)
Builder Vishakapatnam Naval Dockyard (VND) with assistance from Mazagon Dock Ltd. (MDL).
Displ. Tons 5,500 – 6,500 (Est.)
Length 100m (328ft) (Est.)
Beam 15m (49.2ft) (Est.)
Draft 9m (29.5ft) (Est.)
Machinery Nuclear: one pressurized water reactor (PWR) using 20% enriched uranium fuel (160-190MW); one turbine (47,000hp/70MW); one shaft; one 7-bladed, high-skew propeller. (Est.)
Speed (Knots) 12-15 (surfaced) 30-34 (submerged). (Est.)
Range Unlimited.
Diving Depth 300 m (984.2ft). (Est.)
Complement Undetermined.
Weapons Torpedoes: Six 21 inch (533mm) torpedo tubes. Mines. A total capacity (mines, torpedoes, and missiles) of 30 weapons. (Est.)
Missiles Submarine launched cruise missiles (SLCM) using either a vertical launch system or a torpedo tube launch, surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs), and a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM). (Est.)

 

[Adux]

It is supposed to be based on Project 885 Yasen SSN Attack Sub, its a fourth generation Russian Sub, Now if that works out, and it is a big IF. By god it is big leap for Indian Nuclear Traid but more than that Indian Sub Force.

 

[TexasJohn]

Su 30 MKI/MK/MKK
Mirage 2000
Jaguar

Also MIG-27 I believe. btw, Bull the SU-30 MKK is what China has. India has the MKI - and no they are not the same

 

[Keysersoze]

It is supposed to be based on Project 885 Yasen SSN Attack Sub, its a fourth generation Russian Sub, Now if that works out, and it is a big IF. By god it is big leap for Indian Nuclear Traid but more than that Indian Sub Force.

Hold on Adux........... Has India built a conventional submarine yet?

 

[Cheetah786]

It is supposed to be based on Project 885 Yasen SSN Attack Sub, its a fourth generation Russian Sub, Now if that works out, and it is a big IF. By god it is big leap for Indian Nuclear Traid but more than that Indian Sub Force.

edited i should stay out of topics i lack knowledge.my apologies

 

[Adux]

Hold on Adux........... Has India built a conventional submarine yet?

On its own, NO. Under ToT yes HDW Type 209 as well as the new scropene's.I hope you saw the BIG IF;i wrote. If it all this is true, then there are major Russian involvement, India no way posses the required tech for designing and manufacturing a 4th Gen Sub from the ground up.

 

[Adux]

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.

just a question how is this is going to be big leap.if most of the world is building it for you.

Atleast the most of the world is ready to build it for us, not something very country can crow about.
Big Leap in tech, since it is being built in India. Big Leap in tech, I will let the techie's over here discuss, on how it would have helped the Indian Sub Building Capabilites.

Capabilities of the Indian navy, is going to go thru leaps and bounds.

 

[Adux]

INDIA’S OWN: Sea trials for the submarine are slated to begin by 2010, and are expected to be fully operational by 2012.

New Delhi: India is set to launch its first nuclear submarine later this year which if successful will put the country in an extremely exclusive club.
The project codenamed the Advanced Technology Vessel has been crawling since the 1970s.


Reports now indicate that India has overcome the biggest problem or miniaturisation of a nuclear power plant that is to be mounted on a submarine hull.


There are whispers of Russian assistance with the mini nuclear plant that has been reportedly tested and validated at Kalpakkam.


The vessel will be launched in Vishakapatnam and sea trials for this submarine are slated to begin by 2010, and are expected to be fully operational by 2012.


The vessel displaces 6, 500 tonnes and can stay submerged for upto 100 days. Armed with guided missiles, it will have a crew of 70 people.


The last time the Indian Navy operated a nuclear submarine was in the late 1980s, when it leased a Russian Charlie class vessel.


India is also in negotiations to acquire two Russian-made nuclear submarines of the Akula class.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india-launches-1st-nuclear-submarine/36394-3.html

 

[Adux]

N-submarine may be operational by 2012
Rajat Pandit
[ 18 Mar, 2007 2329hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]


RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates

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


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/N-submarine_may_be_operational_by_2012/articleshow/1776200.cms

 

[Adux]

2 ATV's ? by 2012, Should we proclaim this as DDM