Cruise Missile Submarine, INS Arihant ready to fire Nirbhay

Cruise Missile Submarine, INS Arihant ready to fire Nirbhay

   This is a interesting development of test firing the long range low flying sub sonic cruise missiles from the strategic missile submarine INS Arihant. the Arihant is the lead vehicle of advanced technology vessel to build and study about future submarines powered by nuclear reactor. at first Arihant was planned as a attack submarine, used to provide defense to the carrier fleet from underwater threats. after the nuclear test in 1998, The Navy and Strategic forces command converts it into a Ballistic missile submarine by developing varieties of  short sized ballistic missiles to fit inside the Submarine's vertical launch tubes.

   And now the Arihant submarine tasked to demonstrate another capability. by firing the long range Nirbhay cruise missile. however still some doubts, can this missilefired from the Vertical launch systems or the Submarines torpedo's tube. and Analysts thinks that Nirbhay could be fired from the VLS tubes. since it's sleek in design and more shorter than the Kalam missiles. So far the Nirbhay missile was test fired from land based test ranges two times. the first launch failed due to the problem in the onbaord computers. and in second test launch, and it performed more than the expected parameters.

   The Arihant has four L&T developed VLS cells, each cell can fire single K 4 missile, the K designated the Indian Missile man Kalam's name, who is the father of many Indian missile programs. the K 4 is the intermediate range submarine launched ballistic missile with the range of some 3500 kilometers, by carrying a single 2.5 ton nuke warhead. due to the short length and fat in size, the VLS can hold only one missile in it cell, means the Arihant can carry four K 4 missiles in each of the VLS Cell. there is a MIRV variant of K 4 already in development stage.

    The K 15 is less fatty compared to the K 4, however shorter in range and payload is just one ton nuclear warhead, and the range capped into some 700 kilometer. the L&T developed VLS can hold three K 15 missiles in one launch tube. makes the Arihant can carry twelve short range ballistic missiles. all the K 4 and K 15 already tested many times from underwater pontoon's and achieved the test parameters. further more K 4 already entered in series production to mass deploy in future Arihant class submarine.

One VLS having 7 Tomahawk missiles

    The US impressed the world, by converting a Ohio class submarine into cruise missile launcher. the US Nuclear powered submarine USS Ohio converted into a Tomahawk missile carrier. the USS Ohio can fire 24 Trident II SLBM from it's 24 VLS Cells.  and the converted VLS cells can also launch the Tomahawk missiles. each VLS can hold seven Tomahawks makes one USS Ohio can able to fire a barrage of 154 missiles in one run. making one of the best fire power submarine in the world.that's what India too planning with the Arihant.

   Nirbhay is relatively very short and sleek compared to the Kalam missiles. so it's clear each VLS can hold seven Nirbhay missiles. Nirbhay and Tomahawk has same diameter of 0.52 meters. and the Trident SLBM has some 2+ meter's dia,the same goes to K 4. so the calculation makes the count of each VLS by carrying seven Nirbahy make the Arihant can carry 7x4= 28 Nirbhay cruise missiles.

L&T VLS Launch cell showing three K 15 missile tubes

     Actually the truth is Arihant is 6000 tons full load of Missile submarine. which is just a test vehicle, and the Real Monster is the INS Aridhman. who is the first vessel from the Arihant family who is going to deployed in combat duties. It's already revealed that INS Aridhman is double in size compared to the Arihant. so clearly more VLS tubes and doubles the fire power. as mentioned, the Aridhman can carry eight K 4 missiles or twenty four K 15 missiles or  56 Nirbhay cruise missiles. when compared to the Ohio, which can hold 22 VLS cells compared to the 8 VLS cells in the Arihant.

     It's quite good that Indian Navy chooses the Nirbhay as a SLCM. by holding large number of cruise missiles. while Surface ships like latest Kolkata can carry only 16 Barhmos for Anti shipping or Land attack roles. so sending a SSGN with the Indian Navy flotilla makes more fire power with the large number of long range cruise missiles. making the enemy land targets razed by saturation of missile attack from the SSGN. like how the Americans dominate the world by sailing the silent deadly SSGN's around the world.

    The decision looks good by fielding cruise missiles in the Submarines. India plans to build three to four Arihant class vessels. making one of the best second strike capability against any powerful Nations. however maintaining such Submarines can ruin the Navy's budget. It's quite good if one SSBN can comes under the SFC for nuke launches with Kalam missiles. and three other can comes with the SSGN capability.

As a jaw dropping news, INS Aridhman already constructed and reportedly in the sea conducting some trails. however details regarding the Strategic missile submarine programs kept secret.

The missile arsenal of Indian armed forces

 The missile arsenal of Indian forces

Cruise Missile

    As the name defines these missiles basically cruise to deliver their payload to a designated target. Cruise missiles are usually powered by jet engines, Scramjet and Ramjet are the latest technology. Cruise missiles are very cost effective and the same time can cause havoc our enemy territory. These missiles can fly low hugging to the terrain thus making it extremely difficult to be detected. Cruise missiles are classified based on the speeds, subsonic cruise missiles travel at a speed lesser than the speed of sound approximately at around 0.8 mach ‘Tomahawk and Klub’ are the best examples.

      Supersonic missiles travel approximately at around 2-3 mach i.e. almost a kilometre/second of its flight. BrahMos jointly developed by India and Russia is the only versatile Supersonic cruise missile. Cruise missiles enjoy considerable long ranges but owing to the operational cost medium range missiles are favoured by armed forces across the world.  Hypersonic missiles are still under development and will fly at around 5-6 mach.

BrahMos cruise missile

       India has the worlds fastest and the deadliest cruise missile in its arsenal, BrahMos. India and Russia decided to setup a private company that could work independently off the political circles, the result was BrahMos aerospace a portmanteau of the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva. BrahMos flies at variable speeds between 2.8-3.0 mach and can be launched from all platforms. 

     The ‘missile man’ of India APJ Abdul Kalam and the then Russian deputy defense minister N V Mikhailov worked relentlessly get BrahMos going. The project took baby steps with India holding 50.5 % share and Russia holding 49.5% share in a joint venture. Russian government and Indian government pitched in US $123 and US $127 million respectively for the project. After three long years of hard work, BrahMos was for the first time test fired from ITR, Chandipur on 12th June 2001.

      Repeated tests followed and the missiles was tested for VTL, mobile launcher and land attack  capabilities during the course of 10 years. The development and success with BrahMos has been a never ending process, the missile has evolved over the years and is now currently in Block III configuration. Till date 35 validation and trail tests have been carried out, during one such test BrahMos became the world’s fastest cruise missile. 

        On 20th March 2013, the submarine launched version of BrahMos was testes fired from a submerged pontoon of the Visakhapatnam coast. BrahMos-A the air launched version is expected to be test fired shortly from a IAF Su-30. Indian navy and Indian army have already deployed the BrahMos. Air force has also placed an order for over 200 air launched version of the BrahMos.

Nirbhay cruise missiles 

   

    The home grown Nirbhay, is a multi-platform all weather cruise missile. The missile can carry one tonne of payload and has operational range of 1000 km. Nirbhay is a two-stage missile system with loitering capability. Nirbhay is equipped with ring-laser gyroscope for accurate strikes. Nirbhay can fly at extremely low altitudes, the missile is enabled with terrain hugging technology which effectively means the missile can fly in the tree levels. This method is instrumental in avoiding detection by enemy radar systems and can help in reducing the reaction time of the enemies. 

          Nirbhay is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. Initially Nirbhay will be launched from a mobile launcher which has been developed by Tata. Further development will guarantee the launch of Nirbhay from Aerial and Naval platforms. The missile will supplement the BrahMos with its extended range.

       The first test of the missile took place in February 2013, the test was a partial success as the missile was destroyed half way to its target after it showed diversion in its trajectory. The missile was again tested in October 2014, the missile delivered the package to the designated target flying flawlessly through the skies. Nirbhay is expected to enter service in less than three years. India also has the Exocet and Harpoon missiles in its arsenal.

Ballistic Missile

      A ballistic missile is a missile system that follows a ballistic trajectory over most of its flight path where most of its trajectory is governed by the gravitational pull of earth. Ballistic missiles cover most of their flight in the stratosphere and during the terminal phases enter the atmosphere and are guided to a per-designated targeted with the help of highly advanced navigational systems. Ballistic missiles are usually powered by multi-stage rockets and are usually classified based on the range and the payload they can carry i.e. conventional and nuclear warheads.

      Ballistic missiles can be launched from silos situated either on the ground or in submarines which is the best platform for retaliatory strikes. Ballistic missiles launched from the submarines are classified as SLBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic missile). India has a very matured ballistic missile program thanks to the relentless work of DRDO. The Agni program serves as the umbrella program for India’s ballistic missile program. 

        Agni V remains to be the most advanced ballistic missile, India has developed. Agni V has a confirmed range of 5500 km classifying it as an ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile). K-missile family are SLBM’s, K-4 which is currently under development will have an operational range of 3500+ km. The K-12 with 750 km has been fitted out on INS Arihant and is slated to be test fired in the near future.

Article by - Karthik Kakoor

Navy Plans to Induct 6 Next Gen Missile Boats

Navy Plans to Induct 6 Next Gen Missile Boats

Model of a Next gen Missile Boat with Brahmos

       Indian Navy plans to induct six new next generation Missile Boats/Vessels under make in India program.  The missile vessel primary mission indicated as surface warfare unlike most other missile boats perform only Anti shipping.previously Indian navy used the Russian missile boats that can bring down entire Karachi and did awesome work in the 1971 WAR. and get the Nickname Killer Squadron. thus later replaced by the corvette's.

   It seems navy didn't satisfied those Corvette's they need new generation missile Boats.  but here the missile vessel have 8 VLS or Tubes for Surface attack this can be added with either Nirbhay LACM ( Land Attack Cruise Missile ) or Combination of Brahmos land attack and anti shipping cruise missiles.  the Nirbhay can strike target far more than 1200 kilometers with impressive loitering capability. also flies at low level and reduced RCS. so hard to be tracked by enemy air defence radars. 

the Indian Navy OSA 1 Class Missile Boat. The Killer Squadran

   the RFI indicates the vessel should have reduced RCS. so it will be hard to be detected by enemy ships. and along with lower acoustic signatures to make the ship hard to be detect by sonar's. both of these specification indicates the ship hull should be  stealth in design and material.

   the ship should be accomodate some 100 Navy personells include 11 officers. so the ship size provide beds and other living features and stocks food.

Range and Endurance

   The ship should be attain the max speed of 35 knots. and at the cursing speed of 25 knots  in any rough conditions such as sea state 4 or seat state 7 the ship should be perform it's primary tasks as per the indicated speed. also the ship can be contentiously cruise at the speed of some 10 knots about 8 hours. and the ship should be in the sea for continuously next ten days and can able to come back to the port with 25% fuel reserve. the missile boat can also be take resupply and refuel from Tankers and Replenishment vessels to further increase the endurance and range.

Weapon Pack

   as per the RFI, the vessel can carry 8 surface to surface missiles. but didn't mentions stocks or reloading. 

   the vessel also equipped with PDMS ( Point Defence Missile System ) that can perform targets in all sides that is provide cover of 360 degree. can also be engage the sea skimming and low flying AShM who flies below 3 meters above sea level. here again the RFI didn't mentions reloading, Range and Anti Aircraft capability. as of now Barak 8 is the only option for this.

  the ship can also need a Gun that can engage both surface bombardment anti air and anti missile engagements. along with separate fire control radar.and mentioned the range more than some 15 kilometers I think OTO Melara 127/64 LW. 

  they also informed the ship need a CIWS system which can be a stand alone version that can have Fire cotrol radar and EO ( Electro Optical ). along with target destruction of 360 degree. but the CIWS information can be normal like all others like range and detection.

Defensive Packs

   The ship should have Chaff flares for confusing incoming enemy missiles. known as the ECM (elctronic Counter measure ). that can provide cover to the entire ship. the ships also accomodate small fire arms such as can hold Assault rifles for sailors and heavy machine gun and Anti material rifles for special operations.  the ship also can smell the sonars who are all tracking the ships and can have high powerful search lights that can be operated by remotely. that will be very useful for search and rescue  missions. the ship also can have upto three big size PTZ camera's and two more fixed camera's that should be work both night and day.

Radars

   The ship can have main  Fire Control radar that can control entire Weapons and guide them the correct directions and targets. the FCR should can accommodate with the naval comabat management system which can integrate all ships under one umbrella known as C4ISR.  the ship also can have radars for Air surveillance for keep the air space under watch and another radar for surface search to keep watching surface ships movements. the ship also can have the proper Navigational system quoted in the RFI.

the dimensions and ship displacement is not listed that means the ship manufacture should accommodate all the above in the ship. no matter of dimensions and displacement. 

A Israeli Missile boat in similar Configuration