INS Sindhugosh undegoing refit at Zvyozdochka (Little Star) shipyard in Severodvinsk circa 2005.
INS Sindhuratna is ready to go back at sea after her refit completed at Zvyozdochka (Little Star) shipyard in Severodvinsk Circa 2002.
Notice the six blade propeller which is a part of an upgrade package.
Kilo Class submarines have been nicknamed 'Black Hole' by NATO for their silent operation in the sea. An agreement with Russia was concluded in the mid-1980s for the transfer of eight Kilo Class submarines. The first submarine in the class - INS Sindhugosh - was commissioned in April 1986 in Riga, Russia and seven more boats entered service with the Indian Navy in another five years. In January 1997, two 'improved' Kilo Class boats were ordered by the Indian Navy and the first - INS Sindhurakshak - was commissioned in December 1997 in St. Petersburg, Russia. This submarine was a spare Type 877EKM hull built for the Russian Navy, but was never purchased. The second boat - INS Sindhushastra - commissioned in July 2000 also at St. Petersburg, is rumoured to be a Type 636.
INS Sindhuvir completed a two-year mid-life refit [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]at the Admiralty[/FONT] Shipyard[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif], St. Petersburg in April 1999[/FONT] and she was ready for active service in October 1999. INS Sindhuraj returned to Mumbai after completing her refit, also at the Admiralty Shipyard. INS Sindhukesari returned to Mumbai after completing her refit [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]at the Zvyozdochka (Little Star) shipyard in Severodvinsk[/FONT]. INS Sindhuratna also completed her refit [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]at Zvyozdochka SY and in September 2002, left on her return journey to India. [/FONT]INS Sindhugosh is the third submarine to complete her refit at the [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Zvyozdochka SY [/FONT]and returned to India in late 2005. INS Sindhuvijay is the next submarine expected to undergo a modernisation, which began in June 2005 also at the [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Zvyozdochka SY.[/FONT]
The mid-life refit involves a complete overhaul of the submarine, including its hull structure. An upgrade package is also part of this extensive refit, which has been designed by [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Zvyozdochka[/FONT]'s Onega Research & Development Technological Bureau and costs roughly US $80 million. The refit sees the submarines being installed with the Klub-S ASCM (a maximum of five missiles can be carried) and the associated Lama-ER control system, new sonars (probably the MGK-400EM), electronic warfare systems, new control systems from Avrora such as the Palladij-M machinery control system and the AICS (Automated Information & Control system) integrated weapon control system.
INS Sindhugosh has likely been equipped with the 3M-14E land-attack cruise missile, a member of Klub family. The submarine has also been equipped with a Panchendriya package, which includes an Indian sonar (USHUS) developed by NPOL (Naval Physical Oceanographic Laboratory) of the Indian Navy and by BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) and a fire control system developed by BEL and the Indian Navy's WEESE (Weapons Engineering & Electronics System Engineering) unit. The remaining submarines due for their mid-life refits, are to be fitted with this new indigenous Panchendriya package. The USHUS sonar is reported to offer superior performance over comparable Russian sonars.
At the February 2002 India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation, then-incumbent Defence Minister George Fernandes stated, "It has also been agreed to accord priority to the setting up of facilities required for the medium refit and upgradation of 877EKM submarines in India." This indicates that future refits of the remaining submarines might occur in India itself, rather than being sent to Russia. Reports indicate that the mid-life refits of two more submarines will occur at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Vishakapatnam under Russian technical supervision. The two boats in question are probably INS Sindhukirti and INS Sindhudhvaj, as they are the last pair (from the original eight vessels) to undergo a mid-life refit. The United News of India (UNI) reported on 12 January 2006, that refit work had commenced on INS Sindhukirti at Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Images/Kilo21.jpg
Miro
