Indian Navy News & Discussions

[Justin Joseph]

Indian Navy rescues three injured foreign sailors

The Indian Navy Wednesday evacuated three Filipino crew members aboard a Bahamian oil tanker after they sustained serious injuries in bad weather in the Arabian Sea, an official said.

The three Filipinos were aboard the crude oil-laden tanker from Bahamas, MV Jana, sailing from Saudi Arabia to Galveston port in the US.

The vessel was around 300 miles off Mumbai when the Coast Guard received a distress call here Tuesday evening.

In the high seas, the ship was hit by a huge wave and three crewmen were thrown around and injured seriously.

While one broke his knee, another broke his ribs and legs and the third suffered a hip dislocation with suspected back injuries.

The Indian authorities suggested that the ship alter its course towards Mumbai. The ship finally arrived and waited for the navy's helicopter, around 50 miles off Mumbai.

Despite hazardous weather conditions, the chopper reached the ship and picked up the three injured sailors and brought them safely to the naval airbase, INS Shikra in south Mumbai.

Later, the injured sailors were shifted to Jaslok Hospital where their condition is reported to be stable, the official said.

Navy rescues three injured sailors

 

[ironman]

 

[Marxist]

Indian Navy Pursues Fixed-Wing Carrier AEW

The Indian navy is trying to move ahead with an effort to buy four carrier-based fixed airborne early warning and control aircraft, and a request for information is now on the streets.

The request for information (RFI) calls for aircraft capable of providing “airborne surveillance, detection and tracking of airborne and surface contacts and control.”

The navy presently operates a fleet of nine Kamov Ka-31 airborne early warning (AEW) helicopters. The comparatively limited range and time-on-station of an AEW helicopter, however, continues to drive the navy’s interest in a fixed-wing early warning platform. The navy has had aspirations to acquire a more capable AEW platform for the better part of a decade, but so far has been unable to secure a procurement program for most of the last 10 years. Some navy officials suggest that the acquisition is still not an immediate priority.

It is now six years since the navy first approached Northrop Grumman about the E-2C Hawkeye. At the time, the navy was working hard to identify a fixed-wing AEW platform for the Admiral Gorshkov (INS Vikramaditya) aircraft carrier.

In 2005, the company’s then-director of AEW programs, David Murray, suggested to the Indian navy that E-2C, with appropriate modifications, could be operated from the Gorshkov’s angled deck without a steam catapult, though the navy was not persuaded. Northrop Grumman has since been trying to push the E-2 platform as a shore-based asset, and, in 2009, obtained U.S. government clearance to pitch the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.

With one indigenous aircraft carrier in the pipeline—and a second to follow—the navy is convinced it needs a fixed-wing AEW platform, if not for the first, then definitely for the second aircraft carrier.

Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman officials revealed the company was awaiting guidance from the navy following technical briefings. Company executives have also reportedly been in discussion with the navy about the feasibility of installing a catapult launch system on India’s second indigenous aircraft carrier, a suggestion already under active consideration by naval designers here.

While the navy has variously weighed the option of considering other longer-range rotary-wing airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platforms, it has persisted with its view that its fleet of Ka-31s simply will not fulfill its early-warning requirements if it has two aircraft carrier battle groups in the coming decade. Doctrine published three years ago emphasized the need for AEW platforms with meaningful time on station.

The new RFI states that the aircraft should be capable of providing an integrated air and surface picture of the area under surveillance in adverse weather and in dense electronic environments. Additionally, it should be capable of being used as a command-and-control platform. The navy is stipulating the aircraft also have a limited maritime patrol and search-and-rescue capabilities.

In a mid-2009 meeting, the navy’s Directorate of Aircraft Acquisition internally discussed the feasibility of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey platform as a potential AEW&C aircraft, but this did not evolve into anything concrete, and any plans to call for information were dropped. At the time, Boeing officials confirmed that they had heard nothing of the Indian navy’s interest in the V-22 platform, and that the company had not initiated any discussions.

The Indian AEW&C aircraft project, currently under development by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bangalore, will receive its first modified Embraer ERJ 145 later this year. The program has previously been pitched to the navy as a platform for a shore-based early warning aircraft.

With the first of eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft to be delivered in 2013, the navy is also in the market for six medium-range maritime reconnaissance jets. An evaluation program for the latter requirement is expected to begin this year.

Indian Navy Pursues Fixed-Wing Carrier AEW | AVIATION WEEK

 

[sudhir007]

INS Sindhurakshak to be delivered in Severodvinsk for refit late July

Indian diesel electric submarine Sindhurakshak (stands for "Sea Giant") will be delivered to Zvezdochka shipyard (Severodvinsk) for modernization late July, said Nadezhda Scherbinina, the head of Zvezdochka press service.

According to her, a dock vessel with the submarine on board sailed off Indian port last weekend and laid a course for Severodvinsk. "Estimated time of the cruise is 40 days", specified Mrs. Scherbinina.

Delegations of Zvezdochka shipyard and Indian defense ministry signed a contract on June 4 in Delhi providing overhaul and modernization of INS Sindhurakshak which will take 2-2.5 years.

"The contract on submarine's upgrade was for the first time signed without intermediary of Rosoboronexport", pointed out the yard's representative.

Being specialized in overhaul and utilization of nuclear-powered submarines, Zvezdochka has upgraded four Indian diesel electric submarines since 1997 which are INS Sindhuvir, INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhughosh, and INS Sindhuvijay. The shipyard also continues repair and modernization of similar submarine INS Sindukirti in her home base Vishakhapatnam, India.

All these submarines are Russian-made Project 887EKM (Kilo class) developed by Rubin design bureau, St. Petersburg. They are designed for antisubmarine and antiship warfare; defense of naval bases, coastal and sea lines of communication; reconnaissance and patrol operations. Such submarines have displacement of 2,300 tons; length of 72.6 meters; submerged speed of 19 knots (about 35 kph); test depth of 300 meters; crew of 52; endurance of 45 days. Armament includes six 533-mm torpedo tubes. In the course of modernization subs are equipped with advanced Russian Club-S cruise missile system (developed by Novator Design Bureau) with firing range of about 200 km, Indian sonars USHUS and radio communication systems CCS-MK. INS Sindhurakshak was built in 1997 at Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard (St. Petersburg) by order of Indian Navy.

 

[Kinetic]

INS Tarkash launched in Russia....

Credit: Indian navy via Livefist

 

[flanker143]

how does the talwar class compare to the shivalik class ?

 

[flanker143]

i read somewhere that india is also developing larger version of arihant ie with greater no. of launch tubes ??

is it true ?? @senior members

 

[Kinetic]

how does the talwar class compare to the shivalik class ?

Shivalik class ships compared to Talwar class (those 3 in service) are larger, more advanced, stealthier, carries Barak1 compared to Kashtan, two choppers compared to one. But new Teg class carries much better weapons like Brahmos compared to Klub and VLS Shtil compared to Shtil in Kashmir system in both Shivalik and Talwar.

 

[Kinetic]

i read somewhere that india is also developing larger version of arihant ie with greater no. of launch tubes ??

is it true ?? @senior members

Its true. India is developing larger version of Arhiant that will carry ~12+ MIRV capable Agni-3SL SLBM.

Current Arihant can also carry 4 Agni-3SL replacing12 Sagarika missiles.

 

[Dash]

Its true. India is developing larger version of Arhiant that will carry ~12+ MIRV capable Agni-3SL SLBM.

Current Arihant can also carry 4 Agni-3SL replacing12 Sagarika missiles.

Did we ever happen to test Agni3 SL?, any idea when can it be fielded, may be the time Arihant gets FOC is it?

 

[jha]

i read somewhere that india is also developing larger version of arihant ie with greater no. of launch tubes ??

is it true ?? @senior members

its very much true...2 larger hulls were reported to be under construction..a total of 3 SSBNs of Arihanth class will be inducted into navy ..and current arihanth will act as test bed for all the techs. being developed..but again this may be just internet rumor...

 

[jha]

Did we ever happen to test Agni3 SL?, any idea when can it be fielded, may be the time Arihant gets FOC is it?

No..i expect it to be tested when the second one gets FOC...

 

[Kinetic]

Did we ever happen to test Agni3 SL?, any idea when can it be fielded, may be the time Arihant gets FOC is it?

Agni-3SL under development, will take time. Its miniaturized version of Agni-3. No date given yet but may be by 2012 they will test it. As of now Arihant got Sagarika missile. 750 km with 1000 kg or 1500+ km with 500 kg.

 

[kali]

Can any anyone please tell me the IN submarine about project 75/project 75I & project 76?

 

[flanker143]

they should convert arihant 1 into ssgn when other larger ones come !!!