Navy plans four more Scorpene Submarine

Navy plans four more Scorpene Submarine

    Indian Navy plans to increase the Scorpene submarine orders. as Navy satisfied it's performance during the sea trails, also Magazon dock has the technology, Navy plans to increase the Scorpene orders to ten. as first under Project 75, Navy shortlist French firm DCNS to collaborate with Mumbai based MDL to build six Scorpene submarine with complete transfer of technology. Navy also wants the last two submarines should be modified to carry DRDO developed Fuel cell based AIP- Air independent propulsion, to increase the sub merged performance.

    After five year of delay, the New Government fast tracks the Scorpene building and launched the first submarine named INS Kalvari this year. INS Kalvari due to complete all of the proposed sea trails, harbor acceptance trails and weapon firing trails before entering into the Navy. Indian Navy operates vintage German designed HDW class submarines and Russian made Kilo class submarines, all of the Submarines are inadequate to perform underwater missions.

    As Magazon dock has the Technology of building the scorpene class submarine. Navy plans to order additional four submarines, to meet the Indian Navy’s critical requirement of underwater capability. the initial order of first six submarine will be completed by 2020. later India plans to float another tender to acquire additional six submarine under Project P 75 I, which includes vertical launching Brahmos missile and Marine delivery vehicles. the P 75 I is also comes under make in India plan same like the earlier P 75 scorpene Project.

    Indian Navy operates nine Kilo class submarines, most of them built in early 1990's. and another four HDW Class submarines, they too built in early 1986 to 1994, Navy leased a Nuclear attack boat from Russia the Akula class submarine, and operates another Nuclear test vehicle INS Arihant. as INS charka is the only submarine which can perform long range missions, and able to safe guard Navy's carrier battle group. Indian Navy also plans to lease another Russian Attack boat however the plan still on tables.

     As all of the other Scorpene class submarine comes with AIP propulsion. which increases the sub merged performance of the Submarine compared to normal diesel electric system. however Navy keeps out the AIP in the first four Scorpene Submarines. without providing any information about the modification. also Navy plans to modify the last two submarines with DRDO developed fuel cell based AIP, which is more advanced and gives more endurance than the normal AIP. also Navy says follow on order of four more scorpene incorporates the same DRDO AIP propulsion systems. AIP allows conventional submarines to remain submerged for long periods without having to surface to recharge their batteries. Scorpene boats can remain submerged for as long as 50 days, at depths of up to 300 meters,

    The Scorpene, comes with six Torpedo tubes, which can fire wire guided Torpedo's, deploying mines, and able to fire exocet SM 39 Anti shipping missiles. one of the special features in the Scorpene. thus allows the Scorpene to perform long range anti shipping roles. India modified one of the last kilo class submarine which can fire such long range anti shipping missiles, the last Kilo class submarine INS Sindhurashtra can fire Klub anti shipping cruise missile through it's torpedo tubes, who's range is more than 200 kilometers.

    Navy plans the future P 75 I submarine should have multiple mission packages. as slated it can fire anti shipping cruise missiles through it's torpedo tubes or VLS cells, fire Brahmos land attack cruise missile through eight cell VLS system. and can also comes with the marine delivery vehicle, which can deploy Navy's elite Marcos close to enemy shores. Russian Amur class submarine, Japanese Soryu and French SMX ocean bidding for the Tender, the tender yet to released. 

Swedish A 26 Submarine for Indian Navy P 75 I

Swedish A 26 Submarine for Indian Navy P 75 I

     The Swedish naval firm Kockums Collins slowly pushing the next generation diesel electric submarine to the Indian Navy, where Sweden lost in the race of supplying the Gripen Fighters to the Indian Air force, now they looking to sell it's advanced concept designed A 26 Submarine to the Indian Navy, Recently Navy floated and RFI for Supply six new generation diesel electric submarines to the Indian Navy under project name P 75 I.

     Earlier the French firm DCNS won the contract of supply six Diesel electric submarines to the Indian Navy under Make in India project, where DCNS supply spare parts and design technology to the Indian private firm who build the Ships in India, they also gives the rights to the Navy to modify existing technology with newer or Indian made subsystems. recently the Navy floated out the first of the Scorpene named as Kalvari class, Navy plans to commission all the six Submarines before 2020.

     The P 75 1 is the successor class of Kalvari, the same existing tenders and Contracts, but more advanced version is inducted, since Scorpene is older technology, Navy looks for Advanced Diesel Electric submarines, west and other countries knows Indian Navy looks for foreign designs, same like earlier days, India went for two designs, one set of HDW or Type 209 submarine from Germany, and another set of Kilo class submarine from Russia.

    But that creates many problems too, mainly the logistics spare and Service issue, both were different models and platforms,after that many of the Officials suggested sticks with single platform, where this also makes problems, one submarines acoustic signature is got in enemy hands it's easy for them to identify other Submarines easily, but operating multiple models makes enemy operators confuse to  identify or locate the exact range and acoustic signatures.

     So Navy has two options either sticks with French Scorpene aka Kalvari Class or Advanced versions from French named SMX Ocean, both have similar operating procedures and Machines but improved model, makes the crew easily switch from other submarines. or go for a New design, currently three others have heavy competition like the Russian Kilo Class, Swedish A 26, and the Japanese Soryu Class.

      The Options are something complex, where Indian rival enemy China has almost full knowledge about the Russian Kilo class, China operates good numbers of Kilo class bought from Russia, they also successfully modified the kilo class, so buying the Kilo class makes no sense if we fight against the Chinese in Future,

      Another one is the Japanese Soryu class, one of the finest Diesel Electric submarine from the Japanese, most advanced SSK across the globe, a Heavy SSK weighting over 5000 Tons, can launch tons of weapons, can able to dive upto some 1500 feet, where other modern SSK can dive only upto 1000 feet, But the problem is Japan won't sell it's top most military Hardwares to other countries, The Australians hardly negotiating to get those submarines, But still they get no clear words from the Japanese Ministry, Indian Defense Minister also approached the Japanese Ministry to Participate the P 75 I program, even that they didn't shown much interest in the existing US 2i Amphibious plane deal.

     So the Clear option comes out Swedish and French designs, that's why the Sweden Firm slowly pitching the A 26 to the P75I program, But in performance wise it's very poor compared to the all other models, like lower dive depth, lower tonnage, weapon launching capacity, But they have the very good Artistic representation which can attract the every customer. the Recent Paris Air show 15 Swedish officials takes the  words towards Indian Officials, While India keep silent on the P 75 I,

Soryu SSK

Soryu SSK

     The Soryu Class Diesel Electric Submarines which is currently Operated by the JMSDF Japanese Maritime Self Defence Forces. Japan currently operating Five such Advanced Soryu class SSK while two others kept in Reserve. the soryu is the currently most advanced Diesel electric submarine compared to all other SSK. while SSK Designates the Hull powered by a Diesel Electric and It's primary function is the Attack role. compared to other latest generation SSK the Japanese Design gets more Marks due it's payload censor systems and endurance and Specially it's fuel systems.

       The Soryu is the improved version of existing Oashio class submarines. The soryu's hull made up of special high tensile steel and coated with anechoic which is used to escpae from enemy sonar detection. thus gives the submarine hard to identity to his enemies. The total sub is controlled by automatic system components which used for easy to operate and requires less crew to maintain such a long ship. the main Propulsion engine is the two Kawasaki Diesel submarine which is used to propel the one mega shaft fitted in the submarine. another set of four Kawasaki kokums Stirling engines gives secondary supply to the on-board systems and used for emergency propulsion. 

      The sub also have snorkel equipments which can be used for emergency exit at any water level and deep submerged conditions. the sub can track sea surface and Air targets using it's ZPS 6F radar which is good for Searching surface levels and low level air search. The Sub's front hull house the main sonar system and another four sonar's also fitted in the sub's side. the sub also having a towed array radar which can tow a sonar who can track the targets without using the sub's main sonar and prevent the sub can be identified to enemies while in search for targets.

       The ship's main defence weapon is launching decoys. the Soryu comes with three dedicated tubes for launching decoy units which creates big bubbles and acoustic signature can confuse the incoming torpedo. The sub's primary attack tubes are six 533 mm torpedo tubes the unique tubes can launch both torpedo's and  anti shipping cruise missiles also known as tube launched cruise missiles. the same can be used for deploying mines around the sea. the entire weapon packages are 30 set of both torpedo's missiles and mines.the 533mm Type 89 is a wire-guided torpedo with active and passive homing modes. It has a maximum speed of 130km/h and can engage targets within the range of 50km. The torpedo can carry a warhead of 267kg

      The soryu's  is some 84 meters long and about some 3000 tons when surfaced and it's weight can be increased by 4000 tons if it submerged. the ship need some 65 crew members include ship officers and Commanders. the ship can achieve speed upto some 13knots while it can reach some 20knots when submerged. the maximum range of the submarine quoted around some 6000 nautical miles. once it can left the harbor it can travel some 6000 miles with submerged and surfaced mode and it can hold under the water contentiously some 70 days without coming surface. thanks to it's AIP

Know how the AIP in soryu works . this good information provided by Arnab Mitra

1. Hydrogen is used as fuel in Hydrogen fuel cells

2. Hydrogen fuel cells are used to generate electricity

3. The electricity is used to run the propulsion motor

4. The electricity is also used to do electrolysis of sea water

5.  Electrolysis of sea water produces Hydrogen

6.  Back to step 1

   As of now Japan is the sole operator of this soryu by some 5 active subs and participating the Australian Collins class replacement Program 

     But recently India just asked the Japanese to provide information about soryu and Requsted to participate in the Indian Navy Project 75 I. which means the sub can be made in India under the Make in India Program where nearly some 12 of these submarines can be procured. Just checkout the Current Indian Diesel Electric submarine Fleet and It's comparison.