Indian Navy News & Discussions

[Hindustani78]

Indo-Mauritius Joint Committee Meeting on Hydrography
The IXth Hydrographic Committee meeting was held at Mauritius from 29 Jun to 01 Jul 2015. The Indian delegation was headed by Vice Admiral SK Jha, Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India. In addition, to reviewing various ongoing hydrographic projects, the Admiral also interacted with the senior Government functionaries including the Honourable President, Prime Minister, Cabinet rank Ministers and the Commissioner of Police, Mauritius Police Force to appraise them of the strong bilateral cooperation and also to share their views on developing Mauritius as a ocean based economy. The Government of Mauritius was particularly appreciative of the stellar work being undertaken by the Indian Naval Hydrographic team based at Mauritius since 2013 and the extensive survey being undertaken by Indian Naval hydrography ships. A significant outcome of this bilateral meeting was the renewal of the existing Memorandum of Understanding on hydrographic cooperation for the next five years. The MoU would pave way for continued cooperation between the two countries and assist Mauritius in further consolidating its hydrographic organisation.

Inaugural Session of the IXth Hydrographic Committee Meeting

India and Mauritius have shared strong maritime bonds over the years with myriad areas of mutual cooperation. Hydrography has emerged as one of the strongest pillars of this bilateral engagement and has been a significant source of capacity and capability building for Mauritius. Whilst, the Indian Navy has been rendering hydrographic assistance to Mauritius since the 1990s, it is through a landmark MoU inked in 2005 that the two countries formalized the mechanism of hydrographic cooperation which included periodic survey by Indian Naval ships to chart the vast Mauritian EEZ and various capacity building measures including setting up of a Mauritian hydrographic unit and skill development of Mauritian hydrographers.

The Chief Hydrographer calling on the Hon’ble President of Mauritius

Since 2005, the two countries have periodically reviewed the progress and charted a future course of action through conduct of a Joint Indo – Mauritian committee meeting on hydrography, hosted alternately by the two Governments.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
07-July, 2015 16:16 IST
Indian Navy to Conduct Seminar on Innovation and Indigenisation

In pursuance of the Govt of India’s ‘Make in India’ policy and the Indian Navy’s quest for ‘Self Reliance through Indigenous Development’, a seminar titled “Innovation and Indigenisation – Sailing towards Self Reliance” is being organised at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi on 16 and 17 Jul 15. The seminar is being conducted in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and will be attended, amongst others, by Senior Officers from IN and MoD and Captains of Indian Defence Industry. The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri will inaugurate the seminar as Chief Guest. Around 300 dignitaries are expected to attend the seminar.

Four Sessions for presentation of Strength Area papers have been scheduled in the proposed programme over the two days of the Seminar. Papers on ‘Synergy amongst stakeholders in Indigenisation’, ‘Innovation for Self Reliance’, ‘Challenges in induction of Indigenous Systems’ etc would be presented by speakers from IN, DPSUs, industry and academia, which are topics of interest for all those who would like to benefit from the growing indigenous defence industry.

 

[migflug]

Indian Navy fast-tracking Scorpene training programme
Published July 9, 2015 |
SOURCE: IHS Jane’s Navy International

France’s state-owned Defense Conseil International (DCI) will begin instructing Indian Navy (IN) crews in Mumbai from September, to operate six DCNS Scorpene diesel-electric submarines being licence-built by Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL).

IN spokesman Captain D K Sharma said a nine-member DCI training team would train two batches of 50 IN personnel – each over 11 months – on land, on board the Scorpenes in dock, and later, at sea.

Each IN Scorpene can accommodate a 31-man crew, including six officers, he said.

In May, 100 IN submariners returned from France after completing an 11-month DCI training course on the submarines, while in August 2014 DCNS completed a five-week training session for 45 IN and MDL personnel at Hyderabad, southern India, on Scorpene Platform Management and Steering Console operations.

 

[W@rwolf]

Update of missing Dornier (Sorry, didn't find any coast guard threads)

After a little more than a month of intensive search, the debris of the missing Coast Guard Dornier aircraft and its Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were located today off Tamil Nadu coastline, a top CG official said.

It was found in the location of search along Tamil Nadu coastline somewhere off Chidambaram-Cuddalore. The flight data recorder and the debris were located by Reliance vessel Olympic Canyon, after INS Sindhudhavaj picked up a barrage of transmissions at a depth of 996 meters on the 6th of July. An ROV deployed from the ship was able to retrieve the FDR and one Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) in a unique and first ever salvage at such depths.

The FDR could provide vital inputs towards establishing the cause of the incident. The Dornier flight with three crew members, all deputy commandants, went missing on June 8 after a routine maritime surveillance sortie along Tamil Nadu coastline.

 

[Agent_47]

The fourth and fifth Project 11356 frigates, built for the Russian Navy at the Kaliningrad Yantar shipyard, might be sent to India.

Such a move will make it possible to equip the ships with turbines of Ukrainian manufacture that were previously ordered but which Kiev now refuses to supply since they would be used for equipping Russian warships.

The Admiral Grigorovich class is the latest class of frigates ordered by the Russian Navy for the Black Sea Fleet, built by the "Yantar" shipyard in Kaliningrad. The frigates are based on the Indian Navy's Talwar-class frigate. Project 11356 frigates are designed for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare and are also armed with air defence systems​

Russian frigates left without engines prepared for transfer to India | Indian Defence News

@Agent_47

That sounds great,That means we will have 4 of these in 5-6 years.Remaining two will be build in private shipyards.
Unlike previous ships these will have vertical launch shtil.
im curious about cost. @Penguin any idea?

 

[Penguin]

Krivak IV Project 1135.6 Dozorny / Admiral Grigorovich
Patrol Project 11356 was designed for warfare in the ocean and the sea on their own and as part of the naval forces. They are capable of destroying enemy submarines, to carry out anti, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine defense warships and vessels to support ground combat, provide amphibious landing.
The main objectives of the Russian Shipbuilding Agency for 2004 in the military sector included the Sankt Petersburg class diesel sub for the Russian and foreign customers; project 11356 frigate; mine sweeper; combat and patrol cutters, specialized and auxiliary ships (fire control, divers', hydrographic, demagnetizing, floating berths).
The Project 1135.6 Dozorny Frigate [and a number of other vessels] were to be built will replace Project 956 destroyers used by the Navy. The new frigates will be capable of acting both as anti-submarine vessels and combat ships. They were to have a displacement of about 4,000 tons, as compared with the Navy destroyers' 9,500 tons.
The Russian Navy issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in early 2002 for the construction of 10-20 frigates in the 4,000-ton range. Budgetary restrictions and a general halt on new projects, delayed the decision. The RFP was re-issued on 28 February 2005. Bidding was supposed to conclude by 01 April 2005, with a decision anticipated by the end of 2005. Two shipyards were considered frontrunners for the program: Baltic Zavod - which at the time had no major construction projects; and Severnaya Verf, which was building the Steregushchy-class frigate. Plans call for building at least 10 units of the class, at a unit cost of about $200 million, and possibly as many as 20 total. If the project moves ahead as planned, the first unit would launch by the end of 2006 and commission in mid-2007. This competition was reportedly won by Severnaya Verf, and nothing more was heard of Baltic Zavod's Project 1135.6 Dozorny.
The Project 11356 frigates, displacing 3,850 tons are designed for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare on the high seas, and for anti-aircraft operations, both independently and as an escort ship. The ships are armed with an eight-cell launcher for Kalibr and Klub (3M54E) anti-ship and surface-to-surface missiles, a 100-mm main gun, Kashtan gun/missile close-in air defense systems, Shtil vertical-launch air defense missile systems, two torpedo tubes, an anti-submarine rocket system and a Ka-28 or Ka-31 helicopter.
The lead warship in the series, the Admiral Grigorovich, was laid down in December 2010, the second, the Admiral Essen, in July 2011 and the third, the Admiral Makarov, in February 2012. Russia's first Project 11356 frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, was to join the Black Sea Fleet in 2014, Vice-Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov said on 29 April 2013. “The newest Project 11356 escort ship, the Admiral Grigorovich, should be launched in 2013 and join the Black Sea Fleet in 2014,” Fedotenkov said.
The Yantar shipyard in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad launched construction of a new Project 11356 frigate for the Russian navy on 13 July 2013. The official ceremony, attended by Deputy Commander of the Baltic Fleet, Rear Admiral Sergei Popov, was held Friday, according to Baltic Reporter online news portal. The Admiral Butakov is the fourth in a series of six Project 11356, or Admiral Grigorovich-class, frigates for delivery to the Black Sea Fleet between 2014 and 2016 under a contract with the Defense Ministry.
The Yantar shipyard in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad on Friday floated out the first in a series of six Project 11356 frigates being built for the Black Sea Fleet, the company said 14 March 2014. Four more ships of the same class were in various stages of construction at the shipyard. All six frigates will be delivered to the Black Sea Fleet between 2014 and 2017 under two contracts with the Defense Ministry.
Patrol ship "Admiral Grigorovich" - Project 11356 frigate head being built for the Russian Navy at the shipyard "Yantar", in late March 2015 began sea trials in the Baltic. Spokesman for the company Sergei Mikhailov said, "It is planned that the sea trials" Admiral Grigorovich "will begin on March 26-27. At present, the factory ship dock completes work on the demagnetization, and then move to the acceptance base in the ports of the Baltic". Sea trials patrol boat, which goes to the Black Sea Fleet, will last presumably before the end of May, after which it would be transferred to the customer.
The first in a series of six Admiral Grigorovich class (Project 11356) frigates, being built for the Black Sea Fleet, will be delivered to the Russian Navy in August, the United Shipbuilding Corporation said 08 April 2015. "The delivery of the Admiral Grigorovich frigate is planned for August 2015," the company said in a statement. "Admiral Grigorovich" was laid down in December 2010, was launched in March 2014.
Under two contracts signed with the Ministry of Defense, "Yantar" is building a series of patrol ships of project 11356 development of the Northern Design Bureau. In addition to the "Grigorovich" in this series of modern frigates for the Black Sea Fleet includes "Admiral Essen," "Admiral Makarov", "Admiral Butakov" and "Admiral Istomin." Complete the construction of a series of Kaliningrad shipbuilders have in 2017.

Project 1135.6 Admiral Grigorovich

So, in 2002, more than ten years ago, unit cost for a larger production run was projected around $200 million. Adjust for inflation, currency changes, smaller production series > ? $300 million? I suppose a contract would include more than just the ships, however.

Compare:

On 17 November 1997, Russia and India signed a $1 billion contract, for three Krivak III class multi-purpose frigates.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talwar-class_frigate

India awarded a $1.6 billion contract to the Yantar shipyard in 2006 to build three modified Talwar class for the Indian Navy.

India to spend $3 billion for 3 more Talwar-class frigates | Russia & India Report

Then again, if the Russians a stuck with engineless ships and are short on cash, they shouldn't be more expensive than batch 2 Talwars and possibly cheaper even.

 

[Perpendicular]

Govt shortlists 5 shipyards for Rs 64,000-cr submarines project


Five Indian shipyards, including the one in which Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani recently picked up controlling stake, have been shortlisted by a top government committee to compete for a Rs 64,000-crore project to build high-tech submarines for the navy.

Six advanced submarines will be built under project P-75I. One of the costliest projects under the Make in India programme, it is expected to scale up the navy’s undersea warfare capabilities and is critical to counter the rapid expansion of China’s submarine fleet.

The shipyards shortlisted by the high-powered panel are Mazagon Dock Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Cochin Shipyard Limited and private sector yards Pipavav and Larsen & Toubro, a top government official told HT. Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure bought controlling stake in Pipavav this March.

The shipyards, identified after a seven-month rigorous process, will be invited to submit bids to build the submarines in partnership with foreign yards of their choice.

German conglomerate Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems with its HDW Type 214 submarine, Russia’s Rubin Design Bureau’s Amur 1650 boats, French DCNS with its Scorpene platform, Spain’s Navantia S-80 class and Sweden’s Saab Kockums’ with its A26 submarines have shown interest in the project to build a second line of submarines in India.

The new submarines will have the capability to operate underwater for several weeks with air-independent propulsion systems, greater strike power against land targets and improved stealth features that make them harder to detect.

Already, six Scorpene submarines are being built at the Mazagon Dock Ltd with technology from DCNS under a Rs 23,562-crore project called P-75. But the first of these will be ready only by late 2016, almost five years behind schedule.

India currently operates 13 ageing conventional submarines and an Akula-II nuclear-powered attack boat leased from Russia at Rs 5,500 crore. In contrast, China’s submarine fleet is growing in numbers and sophistication – Beijing possesses 53 diesel-electric attack submarines, five nuclear attack submarines and four nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

India will complete its nuclear triad — the ability to launch strategic weapons from land, air and sea — only when it inducts the indigenous ballistic missile submarine, Arihant. The boat will carry out weapon trials later this year, including the testing of nuclear-capable B05 submarine-launched ballistic missile. The navy, however, has refused to set a deadline for the submarine to take up deterrence patrols.

 

[Hindustani78]

Seminar on Regional Maritime Dynamics being conducted by ENC

Vice Admiral Satish Soni FOCINC East with delegates of Maritime Seminar

The Eastern Naval Command (ENC), the operational arm of the Indian Navy on the Eastern Seaboard, has been well recognized for its capabilities in Maritime Security, disaster relief and naval diplomacy in the vast expanses of the Eastern Indian Ocean and beyond. The Command, in congruence with India’s ‘Look East’ policy has also sought to foster maritime awareness amongst its personnel and the general public through academic engagements with the think tanks and experts. Towards this end, the ENC and the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), a New Delhi based think tank, are jointly organising a Seminar on ‘Maritime Dynamics in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean Region’ at Visakhapatnam on 09 and 10 July 2015. This seminar is third in the series of such activities earlier undertaken by the two organisations.

Vice Admiral Satish Soni Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command delivering the Inaugural Address

The Seminar is a significant event with several eminent people including distinguished retired and serving Navy officers, former Ambassadors and diplomats, senior academics and other civilian dignitaries participating. These include Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Anup Singh, former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command and Shri Yogender Kumar, former Ambassador to Philippines. While other distinguished speakers are from outstation, Commander Kamlesh K Agnihotri of the Maritime Warfare Centre, Visakhapatnam is representing the ENC. With a view to enlarge exchange of ideas on the subject, the seminar will also witness participation by select academics and students from Vishakhapatnam.

Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) former Chief of the Naval Staff delivering the Keynote Address

The current Seminar becomes very timely and relevant as the shift of power to Asia in the 21st century has also been accompanied by several developments in the maritime field. Some key aspects of these developments are the increasing assertiveness of China, the rebalance of USA as a counter, maritime-territorial disputes, challenges to established international norms and the persistence of other security threats. The International Fleet Review (IFR) being hosted by the city in Feb 2016 will also provide the backdrop for discussions on India’s engagement with countries in the region.

Vice Admiral Satish Soni, FOCINC East handing over a memento to Admiral Arun Prakash

The Seminar will be flagged off with an inaugural address by Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Naval Command. Admiral Arun Prakash will then set the ball rolling with his keynote address which will be followed by the presentations on ‘Regional Geopolitical and Geostrategic Dynamics’, arising out of China’s increasing politico-military assertiveness area and American ‘rebalance’ to Asia. Thereafter, maritime disputes in the Western Pacific, particularly those getting aggravated by Beijing’s creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea will be dwelt upon. The day will close with a discussion on how regional economic and environmental issues impinge on the overall maritime security.

Dr Vijay Sakhuja Director NMF handing over a memento to Vice Admiral Satish Soni FOCINC East

The second day’s proceedings will begin with diplomatic and strategic posturing of various key players in support of their foreign policy objectives, and move on to the evolving maritime security architectures in the region, wherein India’s role and relevance in these mechanisms will also be highlighted. The Seminar will culminate with a valedictory address by Ambassador, T.P. Sreenivasan, former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations.

Maritime Seminar Session in progress chaired by Dr Vijay Sakhuja, Director NMF, participants Rear Adm K Raja Menon (Retd), Vice Adm Pradeep Chauhan (Retd) and Vice Adm Anup Singh (Retd)

Flag Officers and officers from ENC, Members of Navy Foundation and students from various colleges from Visakhapatnam participating in the seminar

 

[Agent_47]

Project 1135.6 Admiral Grigorovich

So, in 2002, more than ten years ago, unit cost for a larger production run was projected around $200 million. Adjust for inflation, currency changes, smaller production series > ? $300 million? I suppose a contract would include more than just the ships, however.

Compare:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talwar-class_frigate


India to spend $3 billion for 3 more Talwar-class frigates | Russia & India Report

Then again, if the Russians a stuck with engineless ships and are short on cash, they shouldn't be more expensive than batch 2 Talwars and possibly cheaper even.

So,
Talwar batch 1 - $330 million
Batch 2 - $566 million

Where as chinese Type 054A frigates cost around $350-$370 million.

Both classes are comparable in every aspects other than cost !
How Much Do China’s Warships Actually Cost? | The Diplomat

 

[INDIAISM]

So,
Talwar batch 1 - $330 million
Batch 2 - $566 million

Where as chinese Type 054A frigates cost around $350-$370 million.

Both classes are comparable in every aspects other than cost !
How Much Do China’s Warships Actually Cost? | The Diplomat

 

[Penguin]

So,
Talwar batch 1 - $330 million
Batch 2 - $566 million

Where as chinese Type 054A frigates cost around $350-$370 million.

Both classes are comparable in every aspects other than cost !
How Much Do China’s Warships Actually Cost? | The Diplomat

No, I was warning against exactly that kind of arithmatic. You can't say that is the cost of the ship, because you don't know exactly what was in each contract. It may well be that the construction cost of a batch 2 unit was virtually the same as that of a batch 1 unit, but that the second order included a portion of money for e.g. integration of Brahmos (or other things we don't know about e.g. a service argreement). ALso indicated was the effect of the production run: the larger the production run, the lower the unit cost, as development costs can be spread over a greater number of ships. There are currently 6 Talwars in existence, with 6 more (Russian ones) building, for a total of 12 eventually. THere are 2 Type 054 and 20 Type 054A active, plus 2 fitting out and 2 under construction. That makes a difference. Note the original russian 2002 estimate of $200m for a 20 ship run.

 

[W@rwolf]

Indian Navy is looking to buy a new Submarine Rescue Ship.

Naval officials are currently in discussions with Russia for the possible sale of Project 21300 class vessels.

The Project 21300 is a submarine rescue ship, which has a length of 98 m, displaces 5,000 tonnes, has a crew of 97, and holds accommodation for 120 rescued personnel. It has a deep saturation diving system, two unmanned submersibles and other rescue equipment. The ship can search for disabled submarines and supply them with oxygen and electricity, and provides a base for rescue operations.

The Bester-1 (Project 18271) DSRV is the main component of the submarine rescue system aboard the ship. Its hull is constructed with titanium-alloy. It is a modernised variant of the Bester and Priz designs from the late 1980s. Bester-1 has a crew of six, a 700 m working depth, and can transport 18-22 rescued submariners. It has been outfitted with new command-and-control, navigation, and attachment systems. Bester-1 can evacuate crew members from submarines listing to 45 degrees; Priz and Bester DSRVs were limited to a maximum of 15 degrees.

The deep saturation diving system includes a three-man diving bell rated for 450 m, transfer-under-pressure capability, and decompression chambers for 60 crew members.

Pic - Project 21300 submarine rescue ship 'Igor Belousov' during trials.

Bester-1 (Project 18271) DSRV

 

[Perpendicular]

Defence Ministry considering major make in India projects today; AD guns, Brahmos missiles on agenda - The Economic Times


For the Navy, decisions are expected on a purchasing a new class of survey vessels that would be made in India. The vessels, four in quantity, could cost over Rs 2000 crore, sources said. Ironically, the Navy, which has a seminar this week on indigenization, has two major foreign buys pending that could be discussed.

These include a new surface to air missile system for the Delhi class of destroyers that would be bought from Russia and additional approvals for four new P8 I maritime patrol aircraft. The two projects are expected to cost the Navy close to Rs 7000 crore - all for imported systems.

 

[Perpendicular]

The Indian Navy completed refitting its new aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya with Barak-1 air defense systems and associated radars, preparing the new carrier for operational service. The carrier was acquired from Russia and commissioned into service in November 2013 without self protection systems.

The Vikramaditya is equipped with an Israeli Barak-1 point defence missile system and Russian made AK-630 close-in weapon system, ‘borrowed’ from a to-be-decommissioned Godavari-class ship. According to Vice-Admiral P. Murugesan, Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff the carrier was originally scheduled to receive the Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) system developed jointly with Israel, but the new system has yet to be inducted to service, pending final acceptance tests on the Kolkata Class destroyer.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar delivering the key note address, at the Seminar on the “Innovation and Indigenisation – Sailing towards Self Reliance”, in New Delhi on July 16, 2015.

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar releasing the Indian Naval Indigenisation Plan (INIP), at the Seminar on the “Innovation and Indigenisation – Sailing towards Self Reliance”, in New Delhi on July 16, 2015. The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R.K. Dhowan other dignitaries are also seen.

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar being felicitated by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, at the Seminar on the “Innovation and Indigenisation – Sailing towards Self Reliance”, in New Delhi on July 16, 2015
.