I couldn’t find the Navy Thread despite searching, I don’t know why, so this is the next best spot.
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Date Posted: 14-May-2004
JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – MAY 19, 2004
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Russians help India to solve SSN snags
RAHUL BEDI JDW Correspondent
New Delhi
India has reportedly resolved many technical problems plaguing its classified indigenous nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) building programme, known as the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV). A locally built SSN could now be ready for trials around 2008-09, claim Indian sources.
A senior Indian source said assistance from Russian technicians had “considerably” helped Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Defence Atomic Energy (DAE) scientists resolve difficulties that have delayed the project by several years.
The same source also said that India has concluded a lease-to-purchase deal with Moscow to acquire two Akula- (Bars-) class Type 971 SSNs with an option for a third (JDW 6 February 2002). He said the boats would cost $700 million each and that the first submarine would be delivered in two years. The Russian government refused to confirm that an agreement had been reached.
Although the Indian Navy (IN) refuses to comment on the ATV programme, there have been periodic semi-official references to the programme over the years (JDW 22 July 1998). The ATV is crucial to the navy’s ambition to contribute to India’s nuclear deterrent, which is currently provided by the army and the air force.
The IN has selected P C Bhasin, a retired vice admiral, to succeed R N Ganesh, also a former vice admiral, as director general of the ATV project (JDW 22 November 2000). Bhasin, whose appointment is expected to be confirmed after the formation of a new government later this month, was the navy’s chief of materiel and was associated earlier with the ATV programme.
The ATV design is reported to be based on the ex-Soviet ‘Charlie 1’-class Type 670 SSN, one of which the IN leased from 1988-1991.
With Russian assistance India is believed to have overcome problems in miniaturising the 40-55MW pressurised water reactor. Sources said the ATV’s reactor is expected to begin tests “soon” at the Kalapakkam atomic research centre near Madras.
Over the past four years Moscow has provided India with 58 tonnes of low-enriched uranium for the Tarapur atomic power station near Mumbai (JDW 28 February 2001). It is also building four nuclear reactors at Kudankulam in coastal Tamil Nadu.
The ATV programme received a boost in 2001 when the Mumbai-based private engineering and military equipment builder Larsen and Toubro (L&T) became involved (JDW 4 July 2001). L&T is also developing a missile launcher for the Sagarika (Oceanic) submarine-launched cruise missile that is intended to arm the ATV.
L&T has located its project offices for both programmes at the Hazira dockyard, where it has already built large portions of the ATV’s hull. These have been floated to the IN’s Visakhapatnam dockyard for assembly. If the ATV enters series production it is intended that the boats will be built at Mazagon Dockyard Limited in Mumbai.
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