Reviewing the Indian Navy's Boeing P8I

Reviewing the Indian Navy's Boeing P8I

   Boeing Aerospace has successfully completed the delivery of the first batch of its P8I long range surveillance aircraft ordered by Indian Navy.  Indian navy had ordered eight P8I reconnaissance aircraft in a deal worth US $2.1 billion. Boeing has now completed the tender by delivering the eighth and the last aircraft to the Indian Navy. P 8I is a long range reconnaissance aircraft which is crucial for monitoring the vast waters which surrounds India. The deal included support systems and the weapons package for the aircraft. Impressed with the performance and the durability of the aircraft, Indian Navy has ordered another 4 aircraft under the follow on clause of the earlier issued tender. The navy has already requested DAC’s clearance for another 12 P8I aircraft.

    The main stay of Indian Navy’s reconnaissance operations are Tu – 142 and IL – 38 aircraft. The navy operates eight upgraded Tu - 142 MKE (Tu 142 is a export variant of Tu 95 Bear ) for long range maritime mission and another five upgraded Il 38 SD for medium range maritime missions. These aircraft are drastically aging and have to be replaced with aircraft capable of handling sustained maritime missions. These aging platforms are expected to be replaced only after 2025, thanks to their timely mid-life upgrades.

The Tu – 142 aircxraft have recived extensive upgrades both in Indian and Russian factories. The aircraft now features the Israeli origin Elta 2022 Maritime surveillance radar. The Radar is capable of taking SAR images of sea surface. The Radar can detect low visible periscopes and very small size attack boats. The radar can detect contacts even flying at 39,000 feet. Onboard the aircraft is the MMS-106 Ladoga magnetometer which is capable of detecting even the slightest anomaly in ocean surface.  However these days the magnetic detector is obsolete given the evolved submarine's hull magnetic signatures. The aircraft currently employs Kh – 35 missiles for AshM roles and in the future maybe fitted out with the deadly BrahMos.

 The future of the Indian Navy’s reconnaissance platforms and missions will be based around the P8I aircraft. The heart of the P 8I is Raytheon AN/APY 10 Maritime surveillance radar. The AN/APY 10 radar is a multi-mission oriented system and can handle multiple operations under the same umbrella.  The AN/ APY 10 radar is the only system of its type to provide ultra-high resolution imaging modes for maritime and overland operations. The radar thus delivers uncompromising performance in each and every operational environment. The actual range and target detection capabilities of the radar system remains classified.

The aircraft houses five advanced workstations onboard, each of these hosts separate management systems for seamless search missions. The P8I not only serves into the ASW mission but can also be employed as an airborne control center. The aircraft can direct fighter jets to designated targets and assist cruise missiles in terminal guidance. The P8I’s are also equipped with the latest countermeasure suites like Chaff and flare to spoof IR guided and Radar guided missiles. The aircraft also houses state-of-the-art electronic attack suite. The name and info about the EA suite remains classified. However it's not meant that the P 8I can't be shot downed by enemy fighter jets.

Indian Navy Ilyushin 38 SD

  The P8I aircraft delivered to Indian Navy are a derivative of the P8A aircraft serving the United States Navy (USN).  The P8A aircraft themselves were developed to replace the aging P3C Orion aircraft. P8A’s are considered to be almost three times more powerful than the Orion’s when detecting submarines and surface targets.  The AN/APY 10 radar is derivative of the American variant and may have a degraded range capability.  P8A are also believed to have been equipped with APS 143 Ocean Eye AFT radar for target search and surveillance options. Reports suggest the Indian Navy aircraft may have been equipped with an exported variant of Ocean eye.

    Another System used in the P8I is the MAD - Magnetic anomaly detector boom. The MAD boom is used to detect the submarines by tracking the magnetic activities underwater. The latest submarines being designed employ hulls having zero magnetic signatures and thus a MAD is considered almost obsolete.   

    Another major system in the P8A is the Sonobuoys. The Sonobuoys are the only system which can detect deep submerged submarines. The exact information about the Sonobuoys is highly classified. The Sonobuoys can detect submarines acoustic signatures and transmit the data to the P8A through a secured data link. Sonobuoys also guide the air dropped torpedo's to hit the Target accurately.

AN APY 10 Radar

   The aircraft can also act as a maritime bomber. By dropping torpedoes, mines and launching missiles the aircraft can hunt down both surface and submerged threats. The P8 A can drop heavyweight torpedoes even when flying at altitudes of 30,000 feet. The P8I can also lay mines across the sea line to trap enemy submarines inside protected zones. Each aircraft can carry four Harpoon anti shipping missiles for surface warfare.

  The aircraft serving under Indian Navy have been retrofitted with several Indian sub-systems. US made IFF transponders and satellite communication systems were replaced to avoid any instances of eavesdropping in the future. BEL supplied its IFF transponders for Friend and Foe detection and Satellite communication system and data transmission links.

   The P8I aircraft were given repeated missions during the search for MH-370 aircraft.  The main mission of the P8I will however be to observe and patrol, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean for possible Chinese underwater threats. The aircraft is currently houses in INS Rajali at Arakkonam close to Chennai.

China audacious claims of imposing a naval blockade with just ten submarines

China audacious claims of imposing a naval blockade with just ten Submarines

        A leading Taiwanese based newspaper has published a report in which the Chinese PLAN officials have made audacious claims of imposing a complete naval blockade on India with just ten submarines.  The very same paper had reported a PLAN source claiming a single PLAN nuclear attack submarine could sink India’s CBG headed by INS Vikramaditya.

        A blockade can be a game changer in war, during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war India had imposed a naval blockade on West Pakistan which proved a major breakthrough in the war. A blockade would simply mean blocking all the shipping lanes to a country which will eventually choke the country with it lacking any reinforcements. India has a very long coast which stretches almost 7500 km, a blockade to be enforced on India is extremely demanding. Do completely block the Indian shores will have to field more than ten of its modern nuclear submarines. Let alone Indian navy operates more than 80 major ships along the Western and Eastern sea boards.   

       A blockade is something that can be achieved on a specified port or area but blocking the whole coast is something next to impossible. Indian navy operates harbours along the sea boards.  Chinese dreams of Indian naval ships always in ports making it easy to blocked is something far from reality.

         China at the same time is not having enough number of nuclear attack submarines unlike the Americans and Russians. China is believed to be operating around five nuclear attack submarines, which can be instrumental in putting a blockade on the Vietnam or Taiwan Navy.

        unlike Nuclear attack Boats, the Diesel electrics has many limits, like diesel shortage, oxygen shortage which forces the Sub should surface once in some 500km Travels. also it's endurance limit the Boat by some thousand Kilometers. makes them only good for securing and patrolling Chinese Economic zone only. Not for operating beyond some 1000 kilometers. Even Chinese too knows that.

        the Nuclear attack boats can sail faster upto thirty knots in submerged mode, can travel some 5000 kilometers without surfacing, travel deep in the water, lets say some 400meters or 1200 feet, allows them to come nearby Indian Shores, But India have less submarines, which can even not worth of securing our Economic zones. But currently India have Projects going on to beef up the Maritime Patrol and combat duties using underwater platforms.

       India have a Nuclear Attack Submarine Akula Leased from Russia, which is More modern than the existing Chinese Nuclear attack submarine, more Silent when Running deep under water compared to other Chinese SSN. China Claimed it's modern Type 093 SSN is less sound than the Russian Akula class, and American Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine, But US Navy claimed it is not a Quite submarine but makes more noise than the First Generation Russian Attack submarine which was entered in 1980's. Also the Chinese claimed the New Type 093 can dive upto the depth of 400meters, but no confirmations on this, where newest Russian Submarines can dive upto  some 500 meters.

         The Chinese have only two active Type 093 class Submarines, where three more will be inducted soon, but they have some three Type 091 Han Class Attack submarines which was entered service in early 1990's. The Indian Navy successfully snooped the Han class submarine many times outside Indian Shores, also watches it;'s movement, Earlier Navy alerted the Indian Government even before the Han Class Submarine docked in the Sri Lankan Port.

       Also earlier once in 2009 near Yemeni coast a Indian Kilo class Submarines successfully snooped the Han Class SSN who is in anti piracy mission, but Two other Chinese Destroyers nearby the area found the Indian Sub, which forced the Indian Submarine to Surface, but no other incidents happens, Chinese warned the Submarine to Surface and readying their ASW Helicopters to drop Torpedo's to destroy the Unknown Submarine, the Chinese Identified it's a Indian Boat only after it was surfaced.

        So almost India have each and every available informations to trace the Chinese Submarines, India lacks in Submarines but not in anti submarine utility's. where china lacks so. India operates less to Long Range ASW aircrafts to, finest Anti Submarine Ships like Kamorta, where Navy plans to build eight new Komarta Class ASW ships, where one in Operational other three in Sea Trails.

         The Indian Navy's ASW Air asserts or the second biggest in the world, after America Indian operates good number of asw aircrafts, all of them can fire Torpedos' and drop sonoubouys to detect submarines deep in the water, Platforms like P 8 and Tu 142 MKE can travel upto some 6000 kilometers and do missions. even the P8 can launch four Harpoon Anti Shipping Missiles too, and both of them can launch Torpedo's and Depth Charges.

        The IL 38 SD and Do 228 also act as a Medium to short range ASW. both can able to drop Torpedo's and Depth Charges. makes very tough to enemy Sub merged asserts who tries enter Indian waters.

      The China has only one option, It can blockade the Indian Naval bases, for that they need to be submerged more than 500 meters, never ever sub surface to breath, It can give easy chances to Indian ASW asserts to Kill you. and comes to Eastern Naval Command and Kill some Tug Boats. It's clear China would not find any other Ships in the Base, all other ships maybe in Patrol.

      and within a moments a large column of Indian ASW planes comes for Hunt missions, and they even won't warn you, but they drop all available Torpedo's and Depth Charges against the Chinese SSN's. that's why it's clear China won't like to do some Suicidal mission like this

Editor Karthik Kakoor

Project 15 Bravo Vishakpatnam Destroyer

Project 15 Bravo Visakhapatnam Destroyer

The Hull of P 15 B INS Vishakapatinam Destroyer

        Apart from the US Navy the Japenese become the second Biggest Navy, but the Chinese Sub merged platforms can give upper edge to the JMSDF, but no one can give good credits to Chinese Sub merged platforms, so the Japanese remains second, to fight against Chinese and Dominate the Indian Ocean Indian Navy need more powerful Destroyers, after the Delhi class and Rajput Class, Government plans to build more advanced Network centric Stealth guided Destroyers, hence the P 15 A the Kolkatha class ships born, by this project Navy would receive one Destroyer in each two years, after some delays the Navy getting those destroyers  now,

       The Indian Navy already receive first of the Kolkatha Class last year and get inducted and the second Ship Kochi is Expected to inducted in the Navy this year, and the final of P15 A the Chennai would be inducted in the coming Year,

    After that Indian Navy has another series more advanced Destroyers compared to the P15 Alpha, The P15 Bravo named Visakhapatnam class and it would be commissioned today, and can finish all trails and be deployed by 2018.

     In P15 B there were four ships planned each would be inducted into the navy with two years cap, Starts 2018 and end by 2024, compared to three ships in P 15.

    The P 15B Displacement mentioned at 7,300 tons lesser than 200 tons by P 15A, due to the more composite materials sleek design and Less Helicopter Facility, P15 A planned to carry two Helicopters but the P15 B will carry a Single SH 70 ASW, search and Rescue Multi role Helicopter.

  The Ships again to carry the More powerful Aegis alternate the Israeli MF STAR Fire Control Radar, which can guide the Ships Offensive and Defensive weapons and gives Target information's, the same MF STAR also the Main FCR in the P 15 A.

     The P 15 B comes with 32 VLS launch of Barak 8 and 16 VLS Launcher of Brahmos, as per Reports, but we can expect more numbers, that means additional 32 VLS Barak and 16 VLS Brahmos or the Nirbhay, and more Number for Maitri QR SAM expected to be 32 systems. also it have to be fitted with four AK 630 or SAM cum CIWS like Phalnx system, the information's not yet released.

   Also the Ship's main gun not yet to be Choose but the Finmccanica OTO Bereda  Naval Gun with Guided Shells may be win the deal, also no information about the RBU 6000 ASW launchers, some roumers also says the Ship can accommodate some Israeli Spike NLOS system for intercepting fast Attack Crafts and Speed Boats, a New method where most western countries are fitting the systems in their Ships.

  The Ship's Torpedo Launching capability is also unknown, but It's sure two or four Torpedo Launching Tubes would be Placed in the Ships, the same P15 A , Delhi class all equipped to launch four 533mm Torpedo's from the Deck.

    The Ships SONAR systems also not described which or what system would be selected the Indigenous Bow Mounted or Navy can import a foreign Bow Mounted SONAR. and no information about the crucial Towed Array SONAR, most of the Indian warships lacks this technology, even the P15 A yet to be receive the Towed Array SONAR. but as per SP's Article the TAS in P15 B comes without any delays, even they don't have the credible sources to prove it,

   The Entire Ship built with advanced Network Centric capabilities to fight in the Modern Battle field and can be work with more modern powerful Aircraft carriers, Nuclear Attack submarines and long range ASW planes like the P 8I.

    The sources also mentioned that the ship can sustain any kind of Nuclear Biological and Chemical Attacks, even most of the Ships designed to survive such attacks, but noting to say about this, but can these ships can survive when a Large scale EMP attack hit the Ships. Questions Remains.

      Also some sources said that Navy gets Help from Thales and IAI about the CMS (Combat Management Systems) Network centric Attack and co ordination also setting up the Radars to work even affected by the EMP.

  With long Questions yet to be answered which will be out in the Media's in coming Days. 

 

A Artistic Representation of Advanced Destroyer

A Delhi Class Destroyer

Rajput class Destroyer

INS Kolkatha a Kolkatha Class Destroyer