India to make a big step towards N-arm triad in Feb and achieve it in next

[Bl[i]tZ]

NEW DELHI: India will take a big step towards achieving a credible nuclear weapon triad in February when its first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant begins sea trials off Visakhapatnam.

Top defence ministry sources say the "sea-acceptance trials'' (SATS) of INS Arihant are slated to begin "towards end-February'' after the completion of its ongoing harbour-acceptance trials (HATS). "It will take at least six months of extensive SATS and missile trials before the boat is ready for commissioning into Navy,'' said a source.

With INS Arihant's induction, India for the first time will brandish the most effective third leg of the nuclear triad - the ability to fire nukes from land, air and sea. The first two legs revolve around the Agni family of ballistic missiles and fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs and Mirage-2000s jury-rigged to deliver nuclear warheads. Only the Big-5 has nuclear triads till now, with a total of over 140 nuclear-powered submarines. America leads the pack with 71, followed by Russia with about 40, while China, the UK and France have around 10-12 each. India did get delivery of INS Chakra, the rechristened Akula-II nuclear-powered submarine 'K-152 Nerpa', from Russia on a 10-year lease last week. But while it will bolster the country's underwater firepower, it's not armed with nuclear-tipped missiles due to international treatises.

India's nuclear triad will be in place, as Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma has declared, once INS Arihant is out at sea on "deterrent patrols''. It has been a long journey for INS Arihant since it was "launched'' at Vizag in July, 2009, with PM Manmohan Singh himself in attendance.

Each and every sub-system was checked and re-checked, along with high-pressure steam trials of all the pipelines, before the miniature 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor, fitted in a containment vessel on board the over 6,000-tonne INS Arihant, went "critical'' last year, said sources.

"Harbour-acceptance trials (HATS) followed thereafter. Now, things are on track for "sea-acceptance trials'' (SATS) to begin in end-February,'' said the source. Simultaneously, fabrication work on the three follow-on SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear ballistic missiles), dubbed S-2, S-3 and S-4, is in full swing under the over Rs 30,000-crore ($6 billion) advanced technology vessel programme. The second SSBN after INS Arihant is to be named INS Aridhaman, both of which loosely mean "potent destroyer of enemies''. They are to be armed first with the 750-km K-15 and at a later stage with the under-development 3,500-km K-4 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles). INS Arihant has four silos on its hump to carry either 12 K-15s or four K-4s.

Navy wants to have three SSBNs and six SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) in the long term, as reported by TOI earlier. The force is grappling with a depleting conventional underwater arm, down to only 14 ageing diesel-electric submarines.

Nuclear-powered submarines can silently stay underwater for months at end, unlike conventional ones that have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries. India with a clear "no-first use'' nuclear doctrine needs survivable second-strike capability riding on SSBNs to ensure credible deterrence.


India to achieve N-arm triad in February - The Times of India

According to schedule six months after Feb INS Arihant will be inducted. So even if we give them 4 extra months on top of 6, by end of 2012 INS Arihant will be out at sea on deterrent patrols armed with K-15 nuclear tipped missles. Sorry for the title mess!

 

[Thorough Pro]

so much for the big mouthed peaceful nation.

 

[IndoUS]

The reactor already went critical, that's a good news. After the trials are done and INS Arihant is inducted it should take less time for the delivery of the other three Submarines of its class.

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

What does this mean?

But while it will bolster the country's underwater firepower, it's not armed with nuclear-tipped missiles due to international treatises.

 

[Thorough Pro]

Does indiginuous in India mean anything flying Indian flag?

 

[Bl[i]tZ]

What does this mean?

But while it will bolster the country's underwater firepower, it's not armed with nuclear-tipped missiles due to international treatises.

That's INS Chakra (Nepra) that we've leased from the Russians! INS Chakra doesn't have nuclear tipped ballistic missiles, its an Attack submarine not a deterrent one.
Here is more -

Ballistic missile submarines - SSBNs differ in purpose from attack submarines and cruise missile submarines SSNs; while attack submarines specialise in combat with other naval vessels (including enemy submarines and merchant shipping), and cruise missile submarines are designed to attack large warships and tactical targets on land, the primary mission of the ballistic missile is nuclear deterrence. Accordingly, the mission profile of a ballistic missile submarine - SSBN concentrates on remaining undetected, rather than aggressively pursuing other vessels. Ballistic missile submarines - SSBNs are designed for stealth, to avoid detection at all costs. They use many sound-reducing design features, such as anechoic tiles on their hull surfaces, carefully designed propulsion systems, and machinery mounted on vibration-damping mounts.

Ballistic missile submarines -SSBNs equipped with nuclear warheads serve as the third leg of the nuclear triad. The invisibility and mobility of submarines offer both a reliable means of deterrence against an attack (by maintaining the threat of a second strike), and a surprise first-strike capability - particularly given the range of the weapons they carry.

INS Arihant is a SSBN - Ballistic missile submarine whereas INS Chakra is an attack submarine - SSN but both of them are powered by a nuclear reactors.

 

[IndoUS]

What does this mean?

But while it will bolster the country's underwater firepower, it's not armed with nuclear-tipped missiles due to international treatises.

I think we have signed some treaties that we won't arm the Russian Sub INS Chakra with N-tipped missile. I think because its on lease and that the Russians don't want trouble in the international community for providing a launching pad for N-tipped missile to India

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

So we paid $920m for a Sub and we can't even equip with nuclear missiles? What rubbish is that?

 

[IndoUS]

So we paid $920m for a Sub and we can't even equip with nuclear missiles? What rubbish is that?

I believe the sub will be used as a training vessel for the INS Arihant. Since its our first time building a N-Submarine, we need training for our men who will run it, so the Navy plans to use INS Chakra as a training bed for the men who will command the INS Arihant.

 

[Bl[i]tZ]

So we paid $920m for a Sub and we can't even equip with nuclear missiles? What rubbish is that?

Well you're missing the point, an attack submarine is not made for carrying nuclear tipped missiles. You may put if you want to.

But it can be detected and its not stealthy. The primary purpose of INS Chakra is to train IN

in the complex art of operating nuclear submarines, which will be useful when India's own nuclear submarine, the over 6,000-tonne INS Arihant, becomes operational next year. Armed with torpedoes and 300-km Klub-S cruise missiles, Nerpa of course will also be a lethal hunter of enemy submarines and warships.

- TOI

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

Well you're missing the point, an attack submarine is not made for carrying nuclear tipped missiles. You may put if you want to.

But it can be detected and its not stealthy. The primary purpose of INS Chakra is to train IN - TOI

I know it will mainly be used training pod and in emergency it will have to dock in India to reload with nuclear missiles, which could be to late.

but at a price tag of almost £1billion, its a rip off right to mainly being used for training?

 

[Bl[i]tZ]

I know it will mainly be used training pod and in emergency it will have to dock in India to reload with nuclear missiles, which could be to late.

but at a price tag of almost £1billion, its a rip off right to mainly being used for training?

Well, angeldemon_007 or sancho can talk about the price and stuff. I've non knowledge regarding that!

 

[Roybot]

Nuclear powered submarines can stay on duty for a very long time, pretty much forever, except for when they need food and fresh water replenishment.

All US Navy subs are nuclear powered.

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

Well, angeldemon_007 or sancho can talk about the price and stuff. I've non knowledge regarding that!

Article from Hindustan Times, comments:

The deal for the submarine, which is being transferred on a 10-year lease, was worth $920 million.

Russia hands over Nerpa to India: Report - Hindustan Times

Mistake almost $1billion.

 

[Bhairava]

So we paid $920m for a Sub and we can't even equip with nuclear missiles? What rubbish is that?

Some things are better not said in the open..