India all set to lease second Akula class SSN from Russia

India all set to lease second Akula class SSN from Russia

   Defense Ministry sources confirmed that India and Russia soon sign a contract to lease one more Akula class nuclear attack submarine to Indian Navy for next ten years. Defense Minister's from both India and Russia will discuss about the lease contract in early November during the Defense ministers Russian Visit, and the contract will be signed in December when the Indian PM and officials visit to Russia. However Indian Navy will receive the sub only after 2018, after completing the modernization and training the Indian Navy crew's.

   Indian Navy is looking to induct one more Nuclear attack submarine for Carrier escort duties. Navy already operates a Akula class submarine named Nerpa, Indian designation is INS Chakra. which was leased from Russia back in 2012 as a leased period of 10 years. The second leased submarine also the same Akula class it's either the Kashalot or the Iribis. However sources confirmed that Improved Akula class submarine Kashalot will be inducted into Indian Navy.

    Navy insisted the government about the shortage of Submarines in the fleet. Most of the Indian Submarines are not capable to conduct long range patrols since they are diesel powered. While the lone SSN always has a duty of escorting the high value Aircraft carrier from enemy underwater threats. By the way India soon to commission another aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Carrier almost finished in construction and final touch up's going on. The Ship scheduled to conduct weapon trails and Air craft landing and take off trails. INS Vikrant already completed most of the sea trails.

    The Kashalot is an improved Akula class SSN. Same like the Nerpa/Chakara. Which is modernized in earlier days with hydrodynamic sensors, modernized Skat 3 sonar systems and better equipment which makes the submarine more silent. The Akula's are more quieter than the American improved Los Angeles class attack submarines.

   Even if the contract signed this year. Indian Navy should  await two to three years to induct the Submarine under Indian Flag. The Ship needs to be modernized with latest control systems and some Repairing works. Which makes the ships combat capable to next ten years without the need of any refit's. Also India would send some Indian Navy crew's to Russia for training. By they way all of these procedures would take nearly three years.

   The leased variant of Akula comes with eight 533mm Torpedo tubes. While the Russian Akula's comes with four 533mm torpedo's and four 650mm nuke torpedo's. The Type 65 torpedo's is not available for export due to International arms control regulations. The leased variant of Akula can hold some 40 torpedo's in it's arms cache. Since long range missions require more torpedo's for defensive/offensive operations.

    Same like others, The Akula also can capable to launch Klub class anti ship or land attack cruise missiles from it's torpedo tube. All of the Indian Submarine's has such capability's for long range interception. The Akula's can also lays  mines for trapping enemy submarines and escape from enemy chase. The Ship also have manpad missiles to engage low flying helicopters and anti submarine planes. Firing the MANPAD needs the ship to be surfaced.

    Also It's believed that Russia may sell those submarines to India once the ten year lease period expires. The deal value of the ten years lease period estimated more than billions of dollars, except the operating cost.

PM Narendra Modi to meet Putin, key defense deals to be see light of the day

PM Modi to meet Putin, key defense deals to be see light of the day

         The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has embarked on an 8-day International tour visiting about six countries. PM will visit Central Asian countries and Russia with the aim of boosting strategic and economical ties with these countries, which serve as the gateway for Central Asia. During his visit PM will be attending BRICS and SCO summits which are crucial for ramifying India’s relationships with these nations. India is the lead member nation in BRICS, an association of emerging economical powers. Mutual development of trade, economics, infrastructure and industries is the main aim of the association. Russia is the host nation for the 7th BRICS submitting which was kicked off on 09th July 2015 at Ufa.

          India is an observer nation at Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) which aims at the mutual co-operation of Eurasian countries in the field of economic, trade and military. China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are the permanent member nations. Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia, India and Pakistan share the stage as observer states in the organization. President of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has been actively pitching for elevating India as a permanent member, given the economical hold India has over the region. India’s inclusion in the organization will prove to be a vital boost to counter ‘Chinese influence’ in the region.

      The organization has dedicated channels for military co-operation, intelligence sharing and counter terrorism. Under the ‘SCO banner’ repeated joint-military exercises have been conducted. Hence the inclusion of India to this organization will be a game changer for maintaining India’s presence in the region and can be expected to happen by 2016.

       India and Russia have a very robust defense agreements and share time tested and trusted relationship. India and Russia recently agreed to work out on a ‘fifth generation’ design for Russia’s most advanced Su 35. The variant currently being worked out is code named as Su 35 ‘S’ – stealth.

FGFA Project

       In the backdrop of these summits, PM will be meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin with the hope of addressing the long delayed Indian-Russian defense projects. The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project, a derivative of the T-50 being jointly developed by Sukhoi and HAL has been in turbulent waters right from the constitution of the project. Even though constituted way back in 2007, the work partners are yet to reach a conclusive work pattern for developing the aircraft. IAF currently operates just 31 flyable fighter squadron against a sanctioned minimum strength of 42 squadrons. India is fast losing the air superiority it once enjoyed in the region.

     Hence the Induction of newer aircraft at a rapid rate is the solution. With the new government scrapping the MMRCA contract, the need for jets has just doubled. The agreed FGFA will be a twin-seat jet powered by twin engines and is highly capable clubbed with stealth, super cruise, avionics and super maneuverability going aboard the aircraft. The work share has been a chock up point for the project even after the design phase is to be started shortly. India will be investing around US $20 billion for acquiring 200 aircraft. The first of the T-50 have already entered service with the Russian air force. Mass delivery of the aircraft is expected to being by 2016. With Modi meeting Putin a formal announcement in regard to this project is most expected.

MTA Aircraft

      Multi-role Transport Aircraft Ltd (MTAL) is currently developing a multi-purpose transport aircraft for the air forces of India and Russia. MTAL is one of the companies in which India and Russia hold equal joint shares. MTA will be the replacement for India’s primary Medium transport aircraft, the An-32. The international tender for an aircraft was cancelled and MTAL given a go ahead, but the deal had been delayed for years. In a welcome move the headquarters for MTAL’s headquarters was setup in Bengaluru.

Nuclear powered submarines

      With India’s interest in the IOR increasing with every passing day the need for force to protect India’s vested interest has been increasing. The underwater force of the Indian navy has depleted to alarming numbers. India has already cleared ambitious plans of manufacturing six nuclear powered attack submarines in home. The P-75 I project is one more project that guarantees a respite to Indian navy. But as a stop gap measure India is looking at leasing the latest submarines from reliable partners.

  The only answer to this will be ‘Russia’, which has been leasing nuclear powered submarines to India. India currently operates an Akula-class nuclear powered attack submarine, the INS Chakra. India is currently looking at acquiring either the Irbis or Kashalot. India will also welcome the support of Russia in building ‘Nuclear powered submarines’ back in India’s shipyard.

     PM Narendra Modi will also meet Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharrif. The meet comes at a time when the tensions between the long time foes are high. The meet is crucial in bringing down the tensions between the countries which have reached new heights with Pakistan claiming to use N-power against India.

Article By Karthik Kakoor

India plans to lease one more Russian Nuclear Submarine

India plans to lease one more Russian Nuclear Submarine

     Last December Indian and Russian government leaders discussed about the Navy's requirements of more number of Nuclear attack boats,  the Russian President Putin agrees the Indian PM's requests and signals the Indians and Russians to work on the papers to create a agreement to lease another Nuclear attack submarine. and Indian PM is on scheduled to meet the Russian President and Naval officials to sign or announce the Lease of second SSN.

      Earlier in the 1988, Indian Navy plans to operate a Nuclear submarine to study about how Nuclear submarines working and How can we Develop something similar in India, The Russians agreed to lease a Charlie class SSGN ( Nuclear powered Cruise Missile Submarine ). It's a Submarine is used to attack land Targets using it's long Range cruise missiles, also those submarines comes with Nuclear tipped Torpedo's to destroy big American Super carriers,

      when India leased the Charlie 1 SSGN, the Russians transfered it without any such weapons because of violation of MCTR, actually It's for only studying purpose, while many claims that's for counter balancing the Chinese Submarine fleet. after the Handover, Indian Navy teams and nuclear scientists studied and analyzed the Submarine  to build something like this in India, That's how Indian SSBN Arihant was born, both boats share many aspects like the Missile launch and Torpedo Tubes, India Returned the Charlie SSGN Indian Designated Chakra 1 by 1992 after the expiry of five year lease period.

      The real threat emerges only after 2000, when India lacks of proper Underwater platforms to confront Chinese and Pakistani Boats, also Navy lacks of Submarines to protects it's surface fleet, the Plans of building more Submarine plans hits roadblocks and delayed, so Navy plans to lease a Russian Nuclear attack submarine to revamp it's underwater capacity for limited time. after talks and Negotiations Indian Navy inducted a refurbished old Russian Akula class attack submarine, used for escorting, Hunting enemy submarines and patrolling sea's to ensure the safety of the Shores. the Akula is something big displacing more than 8000 tons, even the new built destroyer too just 7,000 Tons,  comes with eight 533mm Torpedo tubs for Anti shipping missions, also it can launch land attacking cruise missiles, the deal involving $700 millions with a Lease of 10 years.  the Sub mostly used to escort the Navy's high value target INS Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier, Most carries need a good long endurance underwater platform to ensure the safety of the Aircraft Carrier.

       The Navy also raised an eyebrow of delays of Indigenous Submarine building efforts, and asks the government to lease one more Russian SSN to revamp the Navy. this is not a sudden request, they raised it since the 2000, they initially planned to operate two SSN, while Government went for Single SSN. after the Talks with Russian President in 2014, the second submarine lease talks are brighten, and they are soon to receive the  second SSN from Russia.

       Currently many sources suggested that India may opt for Project Kashalot SSN, Yasen class SSN, and improved Akula class SSN. in simple reason two were easily terminated by it's status. the Kashalot is too old and urgently build, the Russians managed to Build the SSN within three years, after servicing couple of years, The Russian Navy put the sub on reserve means most equipments will be removed, weapons removed and the Nuke reactor will be shut downed, later India went for Sub lease the same Kashalot also in discussion, Kasholat is as same as the Nerpa/Chakra both based on the Akula II series, after Russia plans to modify the Sub to and put in on active duty, the sub was activated again, the Amur shipyard completed the Upgrade and overhaul, and yet to be floated again in the water, so Kashalot is also a strong contender in the Sub lease.

     Another is the Yasen class Submarine, which is newly built Russian modern submarine, they planned to build five such boats, only one in operations, other just in building status, and it makes another 4 to 5 years to deploy in the frontiers. also the current situation in Russian economics makes the new sub building plans will be frozen, due to lack of funds and import from Neighbors, Ukraine is also a key player to major Russian Naval programs.

  

  So it's clear another improved Akula is a Good option, earlier many times media quoted that Navy is in talks with Russian to lease the Akula class submarine named  Iribis, which was laid down in early 1993, the construction stopped after completion of 60% due to lack of funds. so it's believed the Indian Navy will fund the program to complete the Iribis and take the submarine for 10 years as lease.

So we can expect a announcement from the PM about the lease of second SSN soon.