Indian Navy – News and Discussion

I have uploaded a 5 minutes BRAHMOS test video (5.55MB) in Triotex

[QUOTE=Indian1973]http://www.ocnus.net/artman/publish/article_19753.shtml

Russian Rhapsody
By Prasun K. Sengupta, Yhoo 10/8/05
Aug 18, 2005, 11:07

The 2nd International Naval & Defence Show (IMDS-2005) that was held in St Petersburg, Russia, from June 29 to July 5 provided a deep insight into several capital procurement programmes, both on-going and planned, of the Indian Navy. These include naval aviation aircraft and principal surface combatants, diesel-electric submarine (SSK) upgrades, as well as anti-ship/land-attack cruise missiles.

Carrier-Based MiG-29K

Senior officials of Russian Aircraft Corp-MiG confirmed during IMDS-2005 that fabrication of the first MiG-29KUB tandem-seat operational conversion trainer prototype (Project 9-47) and the first MiG-29K multi-role combat aircraft prototype (Project 9-41) began last March, with the former due to make its maiden flight on December 25 this year, and the latter in March
2006. Detailed negotiations for this contract had begun in July 1999. Following extensive flight-testing and airworthiness certification, the first production-series MiG-29K/KUBs will be delivered to the IN by June
2007. The IN has to date ordered 12 MiG-29Ks and four MiG-29KUBs plus related support hardware/software and guided-weapons worth $740 million, and has options on ordering a follow-on batch of 26 MiG-29Ks and four MiG-29KUBs before 2015. The IN has already ordered a full-mission simulator from a joint venture company comprising RAC-MiG and Germany’s Rheinmetall DeTec, and will shortly order a carrier deck-landing simulator from the same entity.

At least a realistic timescale about new MiG-29K/KUB and their first flights, which are still to come and their extensive flight-testing and airworthiness certification.

Posting pic on request

http://www.ocnus.net/artman/publish/article_19753.shtml

Russian Rhapsody
By Prasun K. Sengupta, Yhoo 10/8/05
Aug 18, 2005, 11:07

The 2nd International Naval & Defence Show (IMDS-2005) that was held in St Petersburg, Russia, from June 29 to July 5 provided a deep insight into several capital procurement programmes, both on-going and planned, of the Indian Navy. These include naval aviation aircraft and principal surface combatants, diesel-electric submarine (SSK) upgrades, as well as anti-ship/land-attack cruise missiles.

INS [Indian Navy Ship] Vikramaditya

Extensive refit and upgrade work is now underway in Severodvinsk on converting the Krechyet-class (Type 1143.4) 44,570-tonne aircraft carrier
(the Admiral Gorshkov) into the INS Vikramaditya, whose acquisition contract worth US$860 million was inked on 20 January 2004. Main industrial activity is led by the Sevmash State Production Association, with the others being Nevskoye Design Bureau, Northern Machine Building Enterprise, and Novaya Era JSC. The vessel, which is being reconfigured to primarily undertake offensive maritime strike and land attack operations, will be handed over to the IN by August 2008, by which time it will host a 14.3-degree bow-mounted ski-ramp, twin aircraft restraining stands, a 20-tonne capacity elevator beside the vessel’s island superstructure and an aft lift with 30-tonne lift capacity, and three arresting gears on the aft section of the angled deck to facilitate fixed-short takeoff but arrested recovery (STOBAR) of fixed-wing combat aircraft. The vessel will accommodate 12 MiG-29Ks, four Kamov Ka-31 AEW helicopters, and two Ka-28PL ASW helicopters.

The vessel’s combat/platform management and air situation display systems are being jointly developed by the Meridian Research & Production Enterprise, Granit Central Research Institute, Elektropribor, Salyut State Moscow Plant State Unitary Enterprise and Octagon Systems. The electronic warfare suite will be derived from the TK-25E-5 suite that is on board the IN’s three Project 1135.6 Talwar-class guided-missile frigates (FFG). For close-in and area air defence, INS Vikramaditya will be armed with twin 3M88 Kashtan CADS-N1 modules (each comprising 32 9M311 laser-guided anti-missile missiles and two six-barrelled 30mm GSh-630K gatling guns plus a fire-control radar and optronic director) , as well as the Shtil-1 system developed by the Dolgoprudnenskoye Naucsno-Proizvodstvennoye Predpriyatie JSC, which is part of the Almaz-Antey Air Defence Concern. The Shtil-1 will comprise one MR-700M active phased-array radar and twin vertical-launch modules mounted fore and aft of the island, with each module comprising twin rotary carousels each containing 12 9M317ME surface-to-air missiles (SAM) developed by the Altair Naval Radio Electronics Scientific Institute JSC. A dual-mode solid-propellant rocket motor will provide the SAM with a maximum speed of Mach 4.5. Fire-control and guidance is by a combination of inertial and semi-active radar homing (using four MT-90 Orekh target illuminators). Launch weight of the SAM is 581kg, its range is between 3.5km and 32km, and the missile will contain a 62kg warhead initiated by a dual-mode, active radar proximity fuze. The Shtil-1 has also been chosen for installation on board the IN’s three Project 15A Bangalore-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG) now under construction.

Carrier-Based MiG-29K

Senior officials of Russian Aircraft Corp-MiG confirmed during IMDS-2005 that fabrication of the first MiG-29KUB tandem-seat operational conversion trainer prototype (Project 9-47) and the first MiG-29K multi-role combat aircraft prototype (Project 9-41) began last March, with the former due to make its maiden flight on December 25 this year, and the latter in March
2006. Detailed negotiations for this contract had begun in July 1999. Following extensive flight-testing and airworthiness certification, the first production-series MiG-29K/KUBs will be delivered to the IN by June
2007. The IN has to date ordered 12 MiG-29Ks and four MiG-29KUBs plus related support hardware/software and guided-weapons worth $740 million, and has options on ordering a follow-on batch of 26 MiG-29Ks and four MiG-29KUBs before 2015. The IN has already ordered a full-mission simulator from a joint venture company comprising RAC-MiG and Germany’s Rheinmetall DeTec, and will shortly order a carrier deck-landing simulator from the same entity.

The MiG-29K/KUBs will each feature a digital three-channel fly-by-wire flight control system and a single-channel analogue back-up control system; twin folding outer-wing panels; larger, double-slotted trailing-edge flaps; rectangular leading-edge vortex controllers (LEVCON) fitted to the wing-root extensions; and increased displacement (30-degree) leading-edge flaps. The leading-edge flaps will deploy automatically while the LEVCONs will be deflected only during landing for increasing the aircraft’s lift and stability. Ramenskoye-based RPKB Avionics Design Bureau along with the Moscow-based GosNIIAS Institute is integrating the aircraft’s avionics suite via a MIL-STD-1553B digital databus, as well as developing the on-board mission computer and cockpit instrumentation. The MiG-29K will be equipped with Phazotron-NIIR’s ZHUK-ME multi-mode X-band, monopulse radar that has a range of 120km, can track 20 airborne targets and engage four of them simultaneously, and has a synthetic aperture mode for real-beam terrain mapping. The nose-mounted 13SM infra-red search-and-track system developed by UOMZ will incorporate a laser rangefinder with a 16.2km range, will feature diamond glass to protect the optronics’ lens, and most notably, will be integrated with the TopSight-E helmet-mounted sight/display supplied by THALES of France.

The MiG-29K’s all-glass cockpit will have HOTAS controls, and be devoid of any standby electro-mechanical instrumentation. On-board displays will include the RRKB 1KSh-1MT monochromatic, wide-angle heads-up display, plus three MFI-10 6-inch by 8-inch active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD). The MiG-29KUB’s rear cockpit will contain four MFI-10s. The GLONASS GPS receiver on board will be integrated with THALES’ Totem ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system. Avionics built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd such as TACAN, ILS receiver, VOR/DME receiver, VHF/UHF radios, IFF transponder, radar altimeter; and the Tarang Mk3 radar warning receiver made by state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd will also be installed. The electronic countermeasures suite will comprise ELTA of Israel’s EL/L-8222 jamming pod on the starboard outer underwing pylon, plus twin Russian 16-round, 50mm downward-firing flare dispensers located in the rear fuselage outboard of the engine nacelles.

Powerplant for each of the MiG-29K/KUBs will comprise twin Klimov RD -33-10MK turbofans each rated at 19,842lb (88.25kN) thrust with afterburning. The turbofans will also feature smokeless combustion chambers and full-authority digital engine controls. Both aircraft types will be equipped with retractable in-flight refuelling probes, will have an internal fuel capacity of 5.2 tonnes, and will also be able to carry a 2,150-litre fuel pod on the centreline station and two 1,150-litre tanks under the wings, or a total of four of the latter for buddy-buddy refuelling via a Zvezda PAZ-1MK refuelling pod. As the MiG-29Ks’ secondary role will be fleet air defence, they will each be armed with four Vympel-built R-77 beyond visual range and four R-73E within visual range air combat missiles. Primary offensive armament will include twin Zvezda-Strela Research & Production Corp-built 3M-24E1 subsonic anti-ship cruise missiles with on-board GLONASS GPS receiver and a range of 225km (also be to carried by the IN’s to-be-upgraded Ka-28PL and Sea King Mk42B shipborne helicopters), or four Kh-31P Krypton 110km-range supersonic anti-radiation missiles, four KAB-500Kr or KAB-5000D laser/TV-guided bombs, or a single Novator-built
3M-14E land-attack cruise missile, all of which can be carried by the aircraft’s eight underwing stores stations (the four inner stations can each carry twin pylons).

Principal Combatants

Severnoye Design Bureau officials confirmed that the IN’s Project 28 ASW corvette will be derived from the Bureau’s Project 20382 design. The Bureau is closely cooperating with the IN’s Directorate of Naval Design and Weapons Engineering & Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WEESEE), and state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilding & Engineering to produce detailed engineering drawings using TRIBON CAD/CAM software. The six planned Project
28 vessels will each displace 1,800 tonnes, have a length of 94 metres, beamwidth of 13 metres and a draught of 3.5 metres. Its CODAG propulsion system, comprising twin gas turbines, twin diesel engines and twin diesel generators will drive two-shaft, controllable-pitch propellers. The corvette will have a maximum speed of 27 Knots, range of 4,000nm, endurance of 15 days and a crew compliment of 85. The helicopter deck will be able to house either the dipping sonar-equipped Ka-28PL or Naval Dhruv. The armaments package will comprise one eight-cell vertical launcher for Novator-built
3M-54E Klub-N 220km-range supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles (identical to the ones on board the IN’s three Project 1135.6 FFGs), 3R60-UM fire-control system, Garpun Bal-E surface target engagement radar, one OTOBreda 76/62 main gun, twin 12-barrelled RBU-6000 ASW mortar launchers, twin 324mm ILAS triple-tube torpedo launchers for launching Franco-Italian Eurotorp-built MU-90 lightweight torpedoes, and one 16-cell Barak-1 VLS anti-missile defence system with twin EL/M-2221 STGR target illuminators. On-board mission sensors will include the indigenous DRDO/LRDE-developed L-band Central Acquisition Radar, Kelvin Hughes Nucleus-2 6000A navigation radar, an ultra low-frequency active/passive towed array sonar, towed torpedo decoy, and a close-in decoy system with four chaff/flare decoy launchers.

Igor Orlov, Deputy Director-General the Zvezdochka Shipbuilding Plant in Severodvinsk, said that since 1999 the Plant has undertaken the mid-life refits-cum-upgrades (developed by Zvyozdochka Onega Research and Development Technological Bureau) of four of the IN’s 10 in-service Type 877EKM Kilo-class SSKs, with the St Petersburg-based Admiralty Shipyard undertaking similar work on two more SSKs. It takes two years and $80 million to undertake such work, which includes installation of the Morphyspribor-built MGK-400EM sonar suite, Avrora JSC-built Palladij-M integrated platform management system, and KALIBRE-PLE weapon system (including Agat Research & Production Enterprise’s 3R14N-11356 fire-control system) for enabling the SSK to fire from its 533mm (21-inch) tubes up to four 3M-54E Klub-S or
3M-14E cruise missiles, and TEST-71ME-NK torpedoes. The seventh IN Kilo-class SSK (INS Sindhukirti S-61) will be overhauled and upgraded by the Vizag-based, state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd with the help of Zvezdochka under a recently-inked technology transfer agreement. This SSK, like the INS Sindhughosh , will house the Panchendriya integrated sonar suite and its USHUS bow-mounted sonar jointly developed by the DRDO, WEESEE and the IN’s Naval Physical Oceanographic Laboratory.

Meanwhile, the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering (CDBME) has given a detailed proposal to the IN regarding the supply of type-specific full-mission simulators for both the Type 877EKM SSK and the Amur 1650 SSK. These simulators will be located at Vizag.

MP/ASW Aircraft

Officials from Taganrog Aviation Company (TAVIA) confirmed that the IN’s eight Tupolev Tu-142ME Mod 4 long-range MP/ASW aircraft have been undergoing service life-extensions (for being in service till 2015) at a rate of one per month since September 2004. The officials disclosed that the IN had issued separate, restricted Requests for Information to Russian and Israeli companies in November 2003 for extending the aircraft’s service life and replacing the mission sensor suite at a cost not exceeding $555.5 million. Subsequently, Rosoboronexport State Corp’s offer for the Morskoy Zmei (Sea Dragon) suite was rejected in January 2004 due to performance deficiencies and its price tag of $888.9 million. A month later, an IN proposal calling for ELTA to supply the mission sensor suite, with TAVIA only undertaking structural service life-extension work was rejected by Rosoboronexport. Consequently, the IN decided to proceed only with airframe refurbishment work and retain the Tu-142ME Mod 4’s existing Korshun (Black Kite) sensor suite developed by Leninets Holding Co.

In contrast, the IN’s $205 million service life-extension-cum-upgrade programme for its five IL-38s (including the two attrition replacements that were given free of charge to the IN by Russia following the loss due to a tragic mid-air collision of two IL-38s at Dabolim on October 1, 2002) is proceeding smoothly and is being jointly undertaken by Ilyushin Co’s Khodinka facility, Leninets and NIIS St Petersburg. The first IL-38 arrived in Russia on March 29, 2002 and following its refurbishment and upgrade, made its maiden flight on July 3, 2003. Work included replacing the Berkut
(Golden Eagle) sensor suite with the Novella , which comprises a 2SDI multi-mode I/J-band search radar, chin-mounted SD-5 optronic sensor suite, two-man workstation equipped with large AMLCDs, 92-channel SD-2 acoustic processor, new-generation sonobuoys, new SD-3 magnetic anomaly detector,
2SD9 ELINT/ESM suite (strut-mounted above the forward fuselage), and tactical data links, all integrated by a MIL-STD-1553B digital databus. The remaining four aircraft, which will remain in service till 2020, are now being upgraded at Dabolim to the IL-38SD standard. These aircraft will also be equipped with underwing pylons for launching R-73E air combat missiles, plus a pylon on each fuselage side to fire both MBDA-built Sea Eagle and 3M24E1 subsonic anti-ship cruise missiles.

Guided-Missiles

While the BrahMos supersonic multi-role cruise missile (MRCM) will definitely be installed on board each of the IN’s three Project 15A Bangalore-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG) on order in a 16-cell (710mm diameter each) vertical-launch silo, and on the five Project 61A Kashin II-class DDGs (in twin inclined quad launchers and in an eight-cell vertical launch silo that replaces the aft below-deck helicopter hangar), efforts are now underway to tailor the eight-cell vertical launch silo module for the IN’s three Project 17 guided-missile frigates, all of which have already been launched and are now being fitted out by Mazagon Docks Ltd. In addition, BrahMos Aerospace, along with CDBME, has modified the Amur 1650 SSK’s design that now enables the vessel to accommodate both an 8-cell vertical launcher for the BrahMos, as well as an air-independent propulsion system.

In the article rising from the sea (July 2005 issue) by our contributor Prasun K. Sengupta, we have carried a photograph of Sea King Mk 42B provided by the author. Mr B. Harry who contributes to ACIC.org website claims the photograph is his. Even as we are investigating and looking to resolve this matter, we apologise to Mr Harry for causing him inadvertent hurt.
:diablo:

Source:Ocnus.net 2004

—

its news to me the Kashin class will get 16 brahmos tubes replacing the solitary helicopter as well. looks like their ASW role is deleted and will concentrate 100% on ASuW only.

his info on rotary carousel for Shtil-1 is obviously wrong. Shtil-1 has the mk41
style usual arrangement.

India close to acquiring French submarine

HUMA SIDDIQUI
Posted online: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at 0027 hours IST

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=100872

NEW DELHI, AUG 29: India is expected to clear the way for the purchase of six ‘Scorpene’ submarines from French companies DCN and Thales. Senior officials told FE that the Cabinet would clear the $2 billion deal shortly as a prelude to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s three-day visit to France from September 11, on his way to New York next month.

The submarines will be built at the state-owned Mazagon dockyard in Mumbai, with technical assistance and equipment from French companies. The submarines are to be delivered between 2010 and 2015.As part of the deal, the submarines would be armed with EADS SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles.

However, Naval headquarters is worried that its fleet, “particularly the submarine strike arm”, was de-commissioning vessels faster than it can acquire them. “We have waited long, too long actually,” said the chief of naval staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, when asked about the proposal to acquire the Scorpene submarines.

The Cabinet committee on security is expected to meet later this week to discuss the proposal on Scorpene submarines, that had been cleared by naval headquarters nearly a year back. India has been in negotiations with France to acquire and jointly develop six 1,500-tonne Scorpene submarines at the Mazagon docks.

Sources in the defence ministry said that there has been indication that the deal had currently been put on hold due to comments of the French ambassador in India, Dominique Girard, on the Airbus deal.

excerpt from a defencenews article…fwiw

India, U.S. Prepare To Discuss Weapon Buys
By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI, NEW DELHI

Indian and U.S. officials will discuss the possible
sale to New Delhi of U.S. weaponry — including Aegis
missile systems, an amphibious platform dock ship,
anti-submarine patrol aircraft and Patriot Advanced
Capability (PAC)-3 air defense systems — when Lt. Gen.
Jeffrey Kohler, the Pentagon’s Defense Cooperation
Security Agency chief, visits here next month.
…..
…….
Officials also will discuss India’s possible purchase
of the USS Trenton, a decommissioned Austin-class
amphibious transport dock, used to transport large
numbers of troops over long distances.

An Indian Navy official, however, said the Trenton is
not in good condition.

The Indian Navy also wants to buy U.S. Aegis combat
systems for its ships. The Navy official said the
system can monitor large areas of the Indian Ocean,
keeping an eye on Chinese ships and submarines there.
The Aegis system can defend Indian sea-based assets
from short- and long-range missiles, added the Navy
official, who strongly advocated the purchase of this
system.

Defence Ministry officials said Aug. 23 that the
government likely will buy the Aegis system even
though similar systems are available from other
sources in the world at a cheaper price.

Aegis combat system for Indian Navy ??!! Earlier Washington post reported about it. Is it included SM~ or only Aegis radar only ??

Bush Officials Defend India Nuclear Deal
Aim Is Not to Reverse Policies, Allies Told

By Dafna Linzer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2005; Page A17

Pentagon officials said they considered many of the potential sales, including anti-submarine patrol aircraft that could spot Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean and Aegis radar for Indian destroyers operating in the strategic Straits of Malaka, as useful for monitoring the Chinese military.

The Pentagon yesterday released an assessment of China’s military strength. Basing the findings on U.S. intelligence, the report claims that Beijing is increasing its nuclear arsenal and specifically noted that Chinese missiles are capable of striking India, Russia and “virtually all of the United States.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/19/AR2005071901847.html

India secretly building nuclear submarine

By Khalid Hasan

WASHINGTON: India is building a nuclear submarine secretly, but it should do so openly as it is not breaking any laws, according to a retired admiral of the Indian Navy.

Admiral Raja Mohan told a meeting at the Brookings Institution on Thursday afternoon that India needs to come clean on this secret project and the United States should extend an assurance that If India owns up to it, there will be no adverse reaction from Washington.

Mohan was speaking on the emerging defence and security relationship between the US and India, in particular with reference to the recent agreement on nuclear cooperation between the two countries. He said India has the ability to outstrip China in the production of plutonium but has no plans to do so.

Turning to the Indo-US nuclear cooperation agreement announced when the Indian Prime Minister visited Washington, he said domestic opposition to the deal in both countries will need to be satisfied. This is one issue on which the ultra right in America and the ultra left in India are in accord. It will be for the leaders of the two countries to set the pace.

He suggested the establishment of a high-level panel which should have the authority to cut through inter-agency wrangling that is sure to accompany the implementation process. He argued that the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) has flagged and the Indo-US deal will invigorate it. It will be better to get India “into the tent” rather than leave it out, he added.

Asked if the Indo-US nuclear agreement opens the door for Pakistan to seek a similar arrangement with Washington, he replied that Pakistan would have to demonstrate a “clean record” for at least 10 years. As of now, nobody would take Islamabad very seriously.

Mohan, asked about Pakistan’s cruise missile test, said it was in January 1999 that Pakistan started work on this programme, but the test firing at this particular time is “coincidental.” He said Pakistan’s Shaheen II missile is without doubt of Chinese make. As for Pakistan’s cruise missile, it would have to be asked how a country with only 150 PhDs has made a cruise missile.

The meeting arranged by Stephen Cohen, head of the Asia Programme at Brookings, was attended by a number of experts, including Michael Krepon. HE asked Mohan what the Indo-US nuclear cooperation deal had for the US.

Cohen said both the left and the right in America would be opposed to the deal.

Krepon said the Indo-US ties would weaken the Nuclear Suppliers Group and acquisition of nuclear materials would be easier for Pakistan. The bad news for Pakistan is that one area where it competes with India is nuclear and the expansive relationship envisaged by the agreement between India and the US will put India ahead. He was critical of the agreement as it would leave India to decide what is military and what is civilian in its nuclear programme. He also said that in the past India has been secretive about its nuclear programme, so the question arises: why should America trust India now?

from the daily times

excerpt from a defencenews article…fwiw

India, U.S. Prepare To Discuss Weapon Buys
By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI, NEW DELHI

Indian and U.S. officials will discuss the possible
sale to New Delhi of U.S. weaponry — including Aegis
missile systems, an amphibious platform dock ship,
anti-submarine patrol aircraft and Patriot Advanced
Capability (PAC)-3 air defense systems — when Lt. Gen.
Jeffrey Kohler, the Pentagon’s Defense Cooperation
Security Agency chief, visits here next month.
…..
…….
Officials also will discuss India’s possible purchase
of the USS Trenton, a decommissioned Austin-class
amphibious transport dock, used to transport large
numbers of troops over long distances.

An Indian Navy official, however, said the Trenton is
not in good condition.

The Indian Navy also wants to buy U.S. Aegis combat
systems for its ships. The Navy official said the
system can monitor large areas of the Indian Ocean,
keeping an eye on Chinese ships and submarines there.
The Aegis system can defend Indian sea-based assets
from short- and long-range missiles, added the Navy
official, who strongly advocated the purchase of this
system.

Defence Ministry officials said Aug. 23 that the
government likely will buy the Aegis system even
though similar systems are available from other
sources in the world at a cheaper price.

first post in a week or so havent had much time to post lately,

Victor , The ship yard model of P-17 didnt had a RAWL , but had some kind of Phased Array Radar which looked like RAN-40L or SMART-L , It definately didnt had the RAWL

But P-15A model carries a RAWL , Again its highly unlikely that it will carry the RAWL , since the P-17 will have a different Long Range Radar

it is russian PODBEREZOVIK-ET2 radar not RAN-40L, when the model image was shown in br i said at the time it could be Podberezovik or RAN-40L since there was no image of RAN-40L available to me at the time, people read into latter part and rumour spread. But with futher info on Ran-40L know its definetly not that and with new models/images of ADS and Gorshkov displayed carrying Podberezovik-ET1 i think that radar will likely be IN’s replacement for RAWL.

Igorr@ BR: Bars-29 radar

http://img376.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bars293tk.jpg

What d’ya guys think of this?

http://www.bellona.no/en/international/russia/nuke-weapons/nonproliferation/39412.html

Nuclear subs on lease from Russia to India

ST. PETERSBURG—The construction of a training centre for the Indian military in Sosnovy Bor, 70 kilometers west of St. Petersburg, confirms Russia’s intentions to lease nuclear submarines to India, said Green World Chairman Oleg Bodrov.

The international centre for submariners and saliors.
www.greenworld.org.ru

Vera Ponomaryova, 2005-08-16 15:56

The international centre will open in September in the town that also hosts the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, and will train some 300 Indian naval officers.

Sosnovy Bor is home to the Russian Training Centre for Officers of the Russian Navy which houses working nuclear reactors of the type found on nuclear submarines. These reactors are used to test nuclear fuel and other technologies applicable to nuclear submarine reactors. A building recently went up along side the training centre, where Indian specialists will apparently be schooled.

According to Green World, the building went up in record time following the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India last December.

What is the new building?
A spokesman for the Sosnovy Bor administration confirmed to Bellona Web that the international training centre had been built, but had no specific information about the programme of study or the number of officers who will study there.

Bellona’s Blue Report
Prior to 1991, crews of Soviet submarines were trained in three locations: Paldisky (Estonia); Sevastopol (Ukraine) and Sosnovy Bor.
Read on »

According to the spokesman, the new building will not house any special equipment or installations—such as nuclear reactors—but is only a wing for classrooms and has no relation to the nuclear industry.

Bodrov, who earlier worked at the Alexandrov Scientific and Technical Research institute (NITI in its Russian abbreviation) where tests of new submarines prototypes are carried out, clarified how such a center would be built. “As far as I can judge from my own experience at [NITI] the centre would hold simulators—computers that imitate submarines.”

An Akula class submarine.
Bellona

Nuclear Submarines for rent?
Bodrov said that the training of Indian submariners in Sosnovy Bor was a testament to the notion that Russia has not given up on its plans of leasing nuclear submarines. Representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign affairs and the Ministry of Defense said they were not ready to comment on the potential nuclear submarine leasing.

Nonetheless, India’s defense minister, Pranab Mukharjee, said that negotiations about obtaining a Russian nuclear submarine were underway. At the same time, Mukharjee said that, as yet, the sides were not bound by “any obligations relative to the acquisition by the Indian side of an Akula class submarine.” Mukharjee said the conclusion of any deals hinged on “various international obligations and agreements.”

Representatives of various Russian ministries have also spoken many times of similar intentions. Russian Navy Chief Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov announced in early 2002 his readiness to lease two nuclear submarines to India. It was planned that the first sub would to India in 2004. But the Indian side did not follow up with any official commentary to Kuroyedov’s words.

Discussion of this contract was again taken up in the press toward the beginning of last year, but is was denies by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Now, according to Green World, “Leasing India two third generation multi-purpose submarines with the option to buy them, as many media reports indicated in late 2004, is apparently becoming a reality.”

Bodrov commented further, asking “otherwise, why train some 300 Indian submariners in Russia? That constitutes 4 Akula crews.”

Russian has experience in leasing nuclear subs to India. In January 1988, India leased three Soviet-era Skat class—known as Charlie class in NATO designation—multi-purpose submarines, equipped with eight nuclear missile installations. After the term of the lease ran out, the subs were returned to Russia and decommissioned.

“If India is sending its submariners to us to learn how to operate their submarines, then that likely means a number of nuclear sub leasing agreements exist,” said Alexander Nikitin, who heads Bellona’s St. Petersburg office, the Environmental Right’s Centre.

“Moreover, such a scheme was already worked out in 1988—then the theoretical preparation of the crews took place in Vladivostok, and the practical training in the submarines themselves with Russian sailors aboard.”

Bodrov thinks that this time, the matter concerns the building of two Akula class submarines, which is taking place at the Amur Shipbuilding yard. Current published figures indicate that the two Akulas—one 70 to 85 percent complete and the other 40 to 60 percent complete—will cost India some $400m. The leasing costs would amount to some $25m a year.

The construction of both submarines, on shore infrastructure for them and training of the crews could run Russia, according to experts, some $2 billion.

It is worth bearing in mind that the Akula class sub is a Project 971 nuclear strike submarine—one of the fastest-moving submarines in the Russian fleet. Their crews consist of 73 sailor. The subs carry OK-650 type reactors. The subs are outfitted with four 650 millimeter torpedo tubes and as many 533 millimeter tubes. Akulas are armed with winged Granit torpedoes carrying nuclear warheads, under water missiles and missile torpedoes of the “Shkval,” “Vodopad,” and “Veter” types.

The Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier.
www.gov.karelia.ru

Russia-Indian military co-operation
It is noteworthy that Russia already has experience selling diesel submarines and other weapons to India. Between 1968 and 1971, India purchased eight submarines of project number I-641 and I-641K, eight Project 159AE battle cruisers, eight Project Project 205E missile cruisers and several other assistance vessels.

During 1983 to 1991, India completed its navy with the purchase from the then-USSR of three Project 61ME destroyers, three projects 1234E corvettes, six Project 1258E mine-sweepers, and eight Project 877EKM (NATO Kilo class) submarines.

Then, on January 20th, 2004, India purchased from Russia in one of the biggest contracts to date the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, built in 1978. The Russian firm Rosoboroneksport took upon itself the modernisation of the ship and equipping it with state of the at weapons systems and deck-borne aviation, such as MiG 29Ks, and Ka-27 and Ka-31 anti-submarine helicopters.

At present the foundation of the Indian Navy is nine diesel Kilo submarines from Russia’s Rubin graving yard in St. Petersburg and several ships analogous to the West German JKL 209/1500 type.

Proliferation Risks
In the opinion of ecologists, the coming submarine lease deal poses a serious threat to international security, stimulating, as it does, the Indian-Pakistani nuclear arms race.

“Arming of third world countries is a very dangerous business that can lead to military escalation in the east,” said Vladimir Chuprov, coordinator of energy programmes at Greenpeace Russia.

Chuprov said that selling weapons to India was a “regurgitation of the Cold War.”

”Kremlin bureaucrats still live on the fundamentals of the last century, considering the basic task of the state to be wide-scale preparation for war, arming India, North Korea and other countries.”

Chuprov continued saying that a submarine can contain up to 10 kilograms of plutonium in its spent nuclear fuel. “And even though nuclear scientists are usually specify that this is not weapons quality plutonium, energy plutonium still explodes,” he said.

India is one of four influential countries that are not signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

A new installation—a new target for terrorists
According to Green World’s Bodrov, the current deal not only sharpens the situation in Southeast Asia, but implies another danger: Placing the training centre in Sosnovy Bor puts the city on the radar of terrorists.

At the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant alone there are four reactors of the Chernobyl-type RMBK 1000, several naval reactors at NITI, temporary storage for highly radioactive waste from the nuclear power plant, and enough highly toxic waste to constitute dozens of Chernobyls. The Northwest Russian regional facility of RADON for the outdoor storage of medium and high level nuclear waste also operates in Sosnovy Bor as does the Ekomet-S firm, a smelting plant for radioactive metals.

“The appearance in Sosnovy Bor of an international Russian-Indian centre for nuclear cooperation in the military sphere could create a nuclear and radiological dangerous installation on the Russia Baltic into a target for international terrorism,” said Bodrov.

I have added two Mig-29K Carrier landing videos in TrioteX Video Gallery www.triotex.com

Nice videos… Lot of smoke out of the engine while landing… any ideas..

Northrop Grumman Visits High-Technology Companies in India That May be Prospective Suppliers

BETHPAGE, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) — A Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) team recently visited India to survey that nation’s high-technology industrial base as well as related industries. The company is seeking suppliers of components and capabilities that could be used in the company’s Hawkeye 2000 aircraft, should India’s navy choose to procure these airborne early warning and battle-management aircraft.

The site surveys included initial discussions with members of Indian industry. There will be additional visits in the coming months. The company hopes the effort will lead to broadened relationships with Indian high-technology companies in the near future.

“Northrop Grumman has long recognized the ability of Indian industry to produce world-class defense equipment and services,” said Timothy Farrell, vice president and leader of Northrop Grumman’s integrated product team on airborne early warning programs. “But, until recently, U.S. companies have been restricted from discussing ways of working with them. While we cannot name the specific companies at this time, our team did meet with several who have the potential to add value to the Hawkeye 2000.”

In 2004 the Indian government asked the United States government for information about airborne early warning fixed-winged aircraft. The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman provided price and availability information for newly configured, export-compliant Hawkeye 2000s with a fully integrated logistics-support package. The company also demonstrated the Hawkeye’s capabilities to India’s leadership during this year’s AeroIndia air show in Bangalore, India.

I have added two Mig-29K Carrier landing videos in TrioteX Video Gallery www.triotex.com

On the heli-pad i guess.

Long patrols? :p

Most navies in the world don’t deploy for more than one week or so, especially on small ships like corvettes.

a question for the gurus, most of these new gen ships have very restricted amount of
deck space for the crew to relax in…the foredeck is mostly flush and no railings, the superstructure is flush with the sides (no verandahs), … so where is the crew supposed to relax abd get their sun on long patrols ?

Victor , The ship yard model of P-17 didnt had a RAWL , but had some kind of Phased Array Radar which looked like RAN-40L or SMART-L , It definately didnt had the RAWL

But P-15A model carries a RAWL , Again its highly unlikely that it will carry the RAWL , since the P-17 will have a different Long Range Radar

Austin, all the models of the P-17 and the P-15A show them with the RAWL and Top Plate, what has changed?

Also, just for kicks and giggles would the IN consider basing the P-28s on this rather than on the Russian ‘vette? It’s the Gowind, a French corvette design for export…

well they better look fast coz the P17 #1 is supposed to be comissioned next year!
and the first P15A hull should be ready to float in next few months!

P17 1,2,3 will have VL-shtil thats for sure. so will P15A-1. later we can see….