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Submarines are considered the ultimate stealth weapons. Despite advances in surface and aerial sonar technology over the decades, the art of detecting, tracking and targeting a submerged submarine remains extremely difficult, particularly in the tropical waters of Indian Ocean where the salinity of the sea and the presence of bathy thermal layers of variable water temperatures make submarine detection extremely difficult.
The sonar beam gets deflected like light in a prism, called refraction or the Layer Challenge by Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) officers. Submarines have therefore dominated the arena of detection and counter-detection of ships and submarines with many advantages, operating under water.
Designed to be extremely silent, a submerged submarine can loiter under water for days especially nuclear submarines, scouring the seas safely through long-range passive sonar signals, and easily detect the presence of other submarines and warships in the vicinity. In fact, passive sonar detection is the life line of submarine navigation under water, and is crucial for surfacing safely to periscope depth to sight the surroundings for a navigational or GPS fix, and take a radar picture.
On 6 Oct 2005, French Ambassador to India Dominique Girard and Ministry of Defences (MOD) Additional Secretary D Banerjee signed the long awaited Project 75 contract for six Scorpene submarines worth over $ 3.6 bill in the presence of then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash.
The Cost of the two contracts signed with the two French firms, M/s Armaris and MBDA for missiles, for the project was Rs. 7,197 crores and with Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), for Rs. 5,888 crores for the indigenous construction of the submarines which included imports. Funds towards taxes were catered for separately and Rs. 2,160 crores were allocated towards other engineering items to be acquired during the project period for which only preliminary steps were taken. That led to rough weather and cost overruns. The French Spanish combine Armaris (since wound up) which negotiated the contract, uncorked the Champagne.
The Indian Navy Design Directorate also felt elated that their design inputs had been incorporated. The deal includes an option for 6 more submarines in its present form which DCNS is pressing for.
The MESMA air independent propulsion (AIP) is an option, but it may be considered only for the last two of the six boats.
Since World War II, torpedoes are considered lethal one shot weapons and in the 1971 war, Pakistan Navys Hangor sank INS Khukri on Dec 8, and 178 souls in white lost their lives off the waters off Diu. Appropriately, the Indian Navy is now adequate attention to both aircraft carriers and submarine capabilities.
The main armament of modern SSN and conventional submarines are their missiles and torpedoes which are launched stealthily from underwater for land and surface targets and also wire guided wake homing torpedoes. They are launched from the same tubes to home onto and destroy hostile submarines and ships that have been located by sonars.
The Indian Navy chose the SM 39 Exocet MBDA anti-ship and land attack missiles with the Scorpene contract though the block number of the Exocets chosen has not been disclosed. Marwan Lahoud, CEO, MBDA, then stated: This contract marks another significant step in MBDAs long-term strategy to develop and strengthen solid cooperation with its major international partners. MBDA welcomes this new building block in a relationship which has already such strong foundations and which we will continue to grow.
MBDA has long had links with Bharat Dynamics Ltd, Indias missile maker with the Milan anti-tank missile, but the choice of the torpedo for the Scorpenes has been pending, and time is nearing for the announcement of selection to enable the shipyard to fit the circuitry in the submarines at Mazagon Docks Ltd. Though the torpedoes like the missiles will arrive only in 2014-15 when the first boat proceeds for sea trials, the choice and drawings for construction will be needed by the ship builder well in advance, in this case MDL.
The nick name SSK is for Submerged Submarine Killer and is given to submarines. The Indian Navy has nine aging Sindhughosh (Kilo) class SSKs and four HDW-IKL-1500 Shishumar class SSK boats. The torpedoes for ship and submarine targeting are the heavy weight torpedoes.
Torpedos have proximity fuses.
Today, the latest hi-tech torpedoes are wire guided like the German AEG SUT-266 HWT on the Shishumar class submarines. In recent years an additional type of torpedoes have entered the market called the Wake Homing Torpedoes with contra-rotating direct-drive brushless motors driven by powerful Al-Ago batteries at over 40knots.
These torpedoes approach from the stern of the target by using the wake and noise information and have the capability to attack in salvos. Upon detection of its target, the semi intelligent computer controlled torpedo can make use of its large variety of sensors and computer logic to set up very effective homing procedures which are also designed to nullify torpedo countermeasures.
The Finmeccanica owned company Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) and Atlas Elektronik of Germany have been engaged in a fierce technical and commercial rivalry in a so-called torpedo battle in the international markets, including India, to arm submarines.
THE COMPETITION FOR SCORPENES
All torpedo tubes are of common size called 21 Inch (533mm) and Atlas Elektronik has the DM2A4 Seahake from Germany and WASS from Italy has the Blackshark IF21 which Malaysia has chosen for its first Scorpene Tungku Abdul Rahman which called at Cochin en route to Lumut early in September 2010. The Indian Navy exchanged notes.
The Scorpene comes with the SUBTICS integrated combat system, supplied by UDS, a highly computerised central management system, which oversees all of the submarines sensors and weapons and drawings come with Blackshark compatibility.
While Atlas Electronix which have upgraded the Indian Navys Shishumar class and supplied the SUT-B wire guided torpedoes which have proved very successful, claims that it can provide the expertise through UDS if decisions are taken soon, and not made fait accompli for the Blackshark, as time elapses. There will be a requirement for around 100 torpedoes for the submarines and could cost could touch around $ 700 mill.
The Black SharkIF21 was developed by DCN and (WASS) Italy and incorporates a new Advanced Sonar Transmitting and Receiving Architecture (ASTRA) active/passive acoustic homing head; an updated guidance-and-control section; a fibre-optic guidance link and spool; a new electric motor; and a skewed contra-rotating propeller.
Atlas Electronik has a different technology for the heavy weight torpedo. The Seahake Mod 4, an export version of DM2A4, is a dual purpose torpedo against submarines and ships with full digitization of torpedo guidance and homing, target tracking, attitude control, sensors, a fiber optic communication/guidance wire, a digital strap-down system with fibre optic gyros for precision navigation and powered by a 300 kW high-frequency permanent magnet electric motor.
Both are new generation, long-range, stealth, wire guided torpedoes featuring electrical propulsion system and a fiber optic cable for torpedo guidance.
The Blackshark has life of 20 Yrs. The DM2 A4 SeaHawke has longer service life and it was the last known heavyweight torpedo that was fired was by SSN HMS Conqueror to sink the Belgrano, a quarter of a century ago, in the Falklands war.
Notwithstanding, new submarines are still being ordered, boats in service are still being upgraded, and the heavyweight torpedo remains the main hard-kill weapon for a submarines offensive operations and self-defence.
Western naval warships have light weight torpedoes for anti submarine operations but Russian warships and submarines have heavy weight anti ship torpedoes, which are however not compatible with the Scorpenes. Indications are that the Blackshark has been shortlisted as the Indian Navys choice.
The Italian Navy maintains a high technology laden underwater fleet of submarines and possess the Torado class U212 submarines built under license from HDW with fuel cell Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), and Indian Navy is also in the hunt for AIP.
The Italian Sauro class submarines are being upgraded with sonar and command control system having interoperability with U212As. The Torado class in Italy has been designed to fire Italian A184 mod3 and SeaHawke, in preference of the Italian IF21 BlackShark from WASS.
Indias DRDO at NSTL has produced a heavy weight torpedo called the Varunashtra and a light weight torpedo (LWT) for ships and helicopters.
The Indian Navys Boeing P8-I maritime reconnaissance (MR) aircraft will be equipped with the light weight Lockheed Martins Mk 54 air launched torpedoes. The decision for the fitment of the torpedo in the Scorpenes is vital and imminent.
..:: India Strategic ::. Navy: Indian Navy to select Wake Homing Torpedo
The sonar beam gets deflected like light in a prism, called refraction or the Layer Challenge by Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) officers. Submarines have therefore dominated the arena of detection and counter-detection of ships and submarines with many advantages, operating under water.
Designed to be extremely silent, a submerged submarine can loiter under water for days especially nuclear submarines, scouring the seas safely through long-range passive sonar signals, and easily detect the presence of other submarines and warships in the vicinity. In fact, passive sonar detection is the life line of submarine navigation under water, and is crucial for surfacing safely to periscope depth to sight the surroundings for a navigational or GPS fix, and take a radar picture.
On 6 Oct 2005, French Ambassador to India Dominique Girard and Ministry of Defences (MOD) Additional Secretary D Banerjee signed the long awaited Project 75 contract for six Scorpene submarines worth over $ 3.6 bill in the presence of then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash.
The Cost of the two contracts signed with the two French firms, M/s Armaris and MBDA for missiles, for the project was Rs. 7,197 crores and with Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), for Rs. 5,888 crores for the indigenous construction of the submarines which included imports. Funds towards taxes were catered for separately and Rs. 2,160 crores were allocated towards other engineering items to be acquired during the project period for which only preliminary steps were taken. That led to rough weather and cost overruns. The French Spanish combine Armaris (since wound up) which negotiated the contract, uncorked the Champagne.
The Indian Navy Design Directorate also felt elated that their design inputs had been incorporated. The deal includes an option for 6 more submarines in its present form which DCNS is pressing for.
The MESMA air independent propulsion (AIP) is an option, but it may be considered only for the last two of the six boats.
Since World War II, torpedoes are considered lethal one shot weapons and in the 1971 war, Pakistan Navys Hangor sank INS Khukri on Dec 8, and 178 souls in white lost their lives off the waters off Diu. Appropriately, the Indian Navy is now adequate attention to both aircraft carriers and submarine capabilities.
The main armament of modern SSN and conventional submarines are their missiles and torpedoes which are launched stealthily from underwater for land and surface targets and also wire guided wake homing torpedoes. They are launched from the same tubes to home onto and destroy hostile submarines and ships that have been located by sonars.
The Indian Navy chose the SM 39 Exocet MBDA anti-ship and land attack missiles with the Scorpene contract though the block number of the Exocets chosen has not been disclosed. Marwan Lahoud, CEO, MBDA, then stated: This contract marks another significant step in MBDAs long-term strategy to develop and strengthen solid cooperation with its major international partners. MBDA welcomes this new building block in a relationship which has already such strong foundations and which we will continue to grow.
MBDA has long had links with Bharat Dynamics Ltd, Indias missile maker with the Milan anti-tank missile, but the choice of the torpedo for the Scorpenes has been pending, and time is nearing for the announcement of selection to enable the shipyard to fit the circuitry in the submarines at Mazagon Docks Ltd. Though the torpedoes like the missiles will arrive only in 2014-15 when the first boat proceeds for sea trials, the choice and drawings for construction will be needed by the ship builder well in advance, in this case MDL.
The nick name SSK is for Submerged Submarine Killer and is given to submarines. The Indian Navy has nine aging Sindhughosh (Kilo) class SSKs and four HDW-IKL-1500 Shishumar class SSK boats. The torpedoes for ship and submarine targeting are the heavy weight torpedoes.
Torpedos have proximity fuses.
Today, the latest hi-tech torpedoes are wire guided like the German AEG SUT-266 HWT on the Shishumar class submarines. In recent years an additional type of torpedoes have entered the market called the Wake Homing Torpedoes with contra-rotating direct-drive brushless motors driven by powerful Al-Ago batteries at over 40knots.
These torpedoes approach from the stern of the target by using the wake and noise information and have the capability to attack in salvos. Upon detection of its target, the semi intelligent computer controlled torpedo can make use of its large variety of sensors and computer logic to set up very effective homing procedures which are also designed to nullify torpedo countermeasures.
The Finmeccanica owned company Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) and Atlas Elektronik of Germany have been engaged in a fierce technical and commercial rivalry in a so-called torpedo battle in the international markets, including India, to arm submarines.
THE COMPETITION FOR SCORPENES
All torpedo tubes are of common size called 21 Inch (533mm) and Atlas Elektronik has the DM2A4 Seahake from Germany and WASS from Italy has the Blackshark IF21 which Malaysia has chosen for its first Scorpene Tungku Abdul Rahman which called at Cochin en route to Lumut early in September 2010. The Indian Navy exchanged notes.
The Scorpene comes with the SUBTICS integrated combat system, supplied by UDS, a highly computerised central management system, which oversees all of the submarines sensors and weapons and drawings come with Blackshark compatibility.
While Atlas Electronix which have upgraded the Indian Navys Shishumar class and supplied the SUT-B wire guided torpedoes which have proved very successful, claims that it can provide the expertise through UDS if decisions are taken soon, and not made fait accompli for the Blackshark, as time elapses. There will be a requirement for around 100 torpedoes for the submarines and could cost could touch around $ 700 mill.
The Black SharkIF21 was developed by DCN and (WASS) Italy and incorporates a new Advanced Sonar Transmitting and Receiving Architecture (ASTRA) active/passive acoustic homing head; an updated guidance-and-control section; a fibre-optic guidance link and spool; a new electric motor; and a skewed contra-rotating propeller.
Atlas Electronik has a different technology for the heavy weight torpedo. The Seahake Mod 4, an export version of DM2A4, is a dual purpose torpedo against submarines and ships with full digitization of torpedo guidance and homing, target tracking, attitude control, sensors, a fiber optic communication/guidance wire, a digital strap-down system with fibre optic gyros for precision navigation and powered by a 300 kW high-frequency permanent magnet electric motor.
Both are new generation, long-range, stealth, wire guided torpedoes featuring electrical propulsion system and a fiber optic cable for torpedo guidance.
The Blackshark has life of 20 Yrs. The DM2 A4 SeaHawke has longer service life and it was the last known heavyweight torpedo that was fired was by SSN HMS Conqueror to sink the Belgrano, a quarter of a century ago, in the Falklands war.
Notwithstanding, new submarines are still being ordered, boats in service are still being upgraded, and the heavyweight torpedo remains the main hard-kill weapon for a submarines offensive operations and self-defence.
Western naval warships have light weight torpedoes for anti submarine operations but Russian warships and submarines have heavy weight anti ship torpedoes, which are however not compatible with the Scorpenes. Indications are that the Blackshark has been shortlisted as the Indian Navys choice.
The Italian Navy maintains a high technology laden underwater fleet of submarines and possess the Torado class U212 submarines built under license from HDW with fuel cell Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), and Indian Navy is also in the hunt for AIP.
The Italian Sauro class submarines are being upgraded with sonar and command control system having interoperability with U212As. The Torado class in Italy has been designed to fire Italian A184 mod3 and SeaHawke, in preference of the Italian IF21 BlackShark from WASS.
Indias DRDO at NSTL has produced a heavy weight torpedo called the Varunashtra and a light weight torpedo (LWT) for ships and helicopters.
The Indian Navys Boeing P8-I maritime reconnaissance (MR) aircraft will be equipped with the light weight Lockheed Martins Mk 54 air launched torpedoes. The decision for the fitment of the torpedo in the Scorpenes is vital and imminent.
..:: India Strategic ::. Navy: Indian Navy to select Wake Homing Torpedo
