That article is almost certainly a farce. Prasun Sengupta has published similar articles on the ATV program in the past that have proved to be total fakes.
-The basic design will remain the same for S-5. Introducing a whole new design, that too with a completely different propulsion system(double reactors and double shafts, probably meaning double the hull diameter as well) would mean a completely new class of submarine, not just ‘Arihant class S-5’.
-The Russians are offering consultancy for this program, not complete ready-to-use designs. This was clarified by actual govt sources in an interview before. The idea of purchasing a modified Delta IV design from Rubin is as unlikely as Prasun’s own earlier fantasy that the Arihant would be based on the Akulas.
-The VM-4 is a Russian reactor design used in various Soviet-era subs such as the Victor class. The Arihant class most certainly isn’t going to be using imported reactors, nor would such an import escape notice given NSG restrictions and such. This is what first tipped me off about the fakeness of this ‘article’.
To be fair to him, he claims that the illustrations were released by NPOL, so that might be the only thing fair in the ‘fairy tale’.
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