@WaelAlHussaini
14 hours ago

The situation in the Syrian coast is tense.
New wave of drones attack occurred tonight.

#Khmemeim AB is on high alert
No information about the F-15 interception.

Small and big drones are a real problem and need to be delt with. Hope we don’t get to a state where small drones make a mess of the perimeter and start dropping grenades on parked aircrafts or personnel. Whatever be it, the drone operators are getting good support from their handlers.

VKD from 2018 IN calender

That’s a Tupolev. They started using winglets back in the late 80’s/early 90’s already, on the Tu-204/214. Same with Ilyushin, they put winglets on their Il-96 way back in the late 80’s. In fact, they were pretty early in the world with that. But in both of those cases, they’re classical canted winglets, not the more high-tech blended kind.

Both Tu-204 and IL-96 were designed to be among the top, but the events of the early 90s and more so the oligarchy regime in Russia made sure these aircrafts were not supported. They instead went for Boeings and airbuses and probably collected sacks in commission.

Couple of magazine articles/interview that mentioned Tu-204.

Few beautiful shots of the sub during the sea trials

Finally after 17 years, a new submarine is commissioned.
Indian Navy’s submarine arm came into existence on 08 Dec 1967 when the first INS Kalvari was commissioned at Riga, in the Soviet Union.

The new INS Kalvari

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=174299

Press Information Bureau
Government Of India
Ministry of Defence
(13-December, 2017 18:12 IST )

Curtain Raiser : Kalvari to be Commissioned Tomorrow at Mumbai

Regarded as a very prestigious acquisition, INS Kalvari is the most potent platform to have been constructed in India. The construction of the Submarine, designated as MDL Yard 11875 commenced with the first cutting of steel at MDL on 14 Dec 2006. The ‘Boot Together’ of the submarine wherein the five separate sections were welded into one was completed on 30 Jul 2014. Interestingly she is the first Indian Naval vessel to be built using this modular approach of construction. She was hauled out on Pontoon from the East Yard Dry Dock of MDL in the presence of the then Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar on 06 Apr 2015. The submarine was ‘launched’ and christened as ‘Kalvari’ on 27 Oct 2015 by Mrs. Ritu Shrawat, wife of then CMD, MDL, R Adm RK Shrawat (Retd.) by striking a coconut on the hull with a Sanskrit invocation from the Atharva Veda to the Goddess Aditi, mother of the Sun God Surya (Aditya). Kalvari first put to sea on 01 May 2016. She has since undergone a comprehensive trial schedule to validate her capability to Float, to Move, and to Fight Towards the last, she has undertaken successful torpedo launch as well as the Navy’s maiden SM 39 Exocet combat missile firing on 02 Mar 2017. The formal delivery of the boat to the Indian Navy is the last milestone before Commissioning. On completion of trials, the boat was delivered to the Indian Navy by MDL on 21 Sep 2017.

Kalvari is a potent Man o’ War capable of undertaking offensive operations spanning across the entire spectrum of Maritime Warfare. She embodies cutting edge technology and compares favourably with the best in the world. She has an overall length of 67.5 metres and a height of about 12.3 metres. The hull form, the fin and the hydroplanes are specifically designed to produce minimum underwater resistance. Her 360 battery cells (each weighing 750 kg) power the extremely silent Permanently Magnetised Propulsion Motor. Her stealth is further enhanced through the mounting of equipment inside the pressure hull on shock absorbing cradles.

The Boat’s undersea warfare capability comprises a cluster of advanced weapons and sensors integrated into the Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System (SUBTICS). The sonar suite is Low Frequency Analysis and Ranging (LOFAR) capable enabling long rage detection and classification. Post classification, she may choose to engage the enemy by utilising either the sea skimming SM 39 EXOCET missiles (Flying Fish in French) or the heavy weight wire guided Surface and Underwater Target (SUT) torpedoes. Towards self-defence, she is fitted with mobile C303/S anti-torpedo decoys.

The boats attack and search periscopes are equipped with Infrared/ Low Light Level cameras and Laser Range finders. The boat also has her two 1250 kW MAN Diesel Engines for rapidly charging batteries. The submarine boasts of a highly advanced Combat Management System and a sophisticated Integrated Platform Management System.

The Ship’s Crest

The crests of all Indian Naval ships depict three sail ships at the top commemorating India’s rich maritime heritage. This is followed by the Ashoka Chakra flanked by a Horse and a Bull on either side. The circular lower part depicts a ring of lotus buds encircling the unique badge of each ship with her name written in Devnagiri script.

True to tradition Kalvari’s crest is similarly designed. It depicts Kalvari a Tiger Shark in Malayalam, which symbolises agility, strength and predatory prowess. The Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo Cuvier) a species of Requiem Shark found in tropical and temperate waters is a macropredator, capable of attaining a length of over 5 metres. It is a solitary and mostly nocturnal hunter whose skin pattern resembles the tiger’s stripes. It is known for having the widest food spectrum of all sharks, with a range of prey that includes crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and even other smaller sharks. Noticeably the shark is superimposed over both ocean and sky, alluding to the boat’s capability of engaging both surface and subsurface targets.

The Ship’s Motto

The submarine’s motto “Ever Onward” epitomises the submarine’s zeal and indomitable spirit. The motto has been imbibed by the crew and inspires them to overcome all odds and to never rest on their laurels as well.

The Ship’s Logo

The submarine’s logo, comprising three distinct yet closely interlinked elements, truly represent the crew’s single minded focus on offensive capability. The external ring in grey symbolises the port hole of an enemy warship. A fearsome steel grey tiger shark representing Kalvari herself is depicted surging through the enemy porthole with deadly intent. The sea in the background is aflame subsequent to the attack. The pattern of the waves in black and orange pays tribute to the Tiger Shark’s namesake the Royal Bengal Tiger. The boat’s name and pennant number, S-21, which is her distinct identity amongst other warships is suitably depicted below the motto. The submarine’s logo is proudly displayed on ceremonial occasions.

History of the Submarine Arm

The history of the Indian Navy’s Submarine Arm can be traced to the dedicated efforts of over a decade that commenced soon after India attained her independence. A modest beginning was made when a team of officers were trained at HMS Dolphin, UK in 1962. The Submarine Arm came into being on 08 Dec 1967 when the Tricolour was hoisted on the first INS Kalvari. Thereon the Foxtrots, with their cheerful and determined crews, set the Arm’s proud traditions. Two of these boats participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

The induction of the 877 EKM (Sindhughosh class) and Type 209 (Shishumar class) brought advancements in technology and fire power. The commissioning of the first Indian built (by MDL) submarine INS Shalki on 07 Feb 1992 heralded the country’s indigenous submarine construction capability. Commissioning of the nuclear powered Chakra–I in 1988 and Chakra–II in 2012 leapfrogged the IN into a select group of nuclear submarine operating navies.

Indeed, from modest beginnings the goal of continually strengthening the Submarine Arm has been diligently pursued. This journey of 50 years has been a saga of passion, grit, determination and commitment. Since inception, the Dolphins have established a strong tradition of willingly accepting the challenges of operating in the unforgiving environment that lies beneath providing both the sword and the shield to the nation.

The insignia of the Submarine Arm is the National Emblem flanked by two dolphins. Dolphins, attendants to Poseidon, the Greek God of the sea and patron deity to sailors, are considered as the sailor’s friends. They were also chosen to represent the Submarine Arm because of the characteristic way in which they dive and surface.

The erstwhile INS Kalvari, the first Indian submarine, was commissioned on 08 Dec 1967, under the command of Commander K.S.Subra-Manian at the Soviet seaport of Riga. Since then the day is aptly celebrated as “Submarine Day” by the Indian Navy. Kalvari embarked on her maiden passage from Riga on 18 Apr 1968 and arrived at Vishakhapatnam on 16 Jul 1968 covering a total of 19,000 nautical miles enroute. After almost three decades of service, the sentinel of the deep was decommissioned on 31 May 1996. After decommissioning Kalvari’s fin has been displayed at Beach Road, Visakhapatnam as part of the city’s Maritime Museum. Kalvari’s original bell as well as the Officers’ Commissioning Plaque was gifted to the Commanding Officer of the new Kalvari in 2015 by the then Commander-in- Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Satish Soni.

This new scorpene class submarine took almost 12 years since the contract was signed back in 2005. The initial target was 2012 but the project finally delivered its first, comparatively small, sub-2,000 ton submarine 5 years late. The 6th unit is suppose to arrive in 2020.

Check the link I shared above he is talking of new torpedoes likely Fizik-1

Although in real environment against submarine in unfavourable sea condition detection range of modern submarine will be in single digit and in favourable condition 20-30 km for modern Nuclear and Diesiel submarine, So a 100 km range torpedo is of academic value no one ever used that range to kill a target not even a surface one not even 50 km

If I’m not wrong, there are no “active” 650mm torpedoes with the Russian navy since the Type-65 has been put on standby after 949A Krusk accident. Pr.885/M submarines are equipped with 8-6 x 650mm tubes where as Pr.955/A doesn’t have any 650mm tubes, Pr.955B might not get any coz they are strategic deterrent assets unlike 855/M hunter/killer units.

I maybe wrong, but looking at whats available makes me believe this is unlikely to be a 533mm torpedo and the reason why I mentioned Type-65 and a development on that.

Though 100Km and 1,000m engagement figures might look purely academic, but why not have that capability at ones disposal if it can be technically achieved? Think of it as a stand alone or stand-off distance weapons.

The 650mm were meant to be used against carrier battle groups and ,say, 6-8 shots of these torpedo’s from outside the protective underwater screen of the CBG group is going to unsettle the group. A combination of over the waves anti-ship salvo and underneath salvo from outside the CBG protective screen is going to be a two dimensional assault and would be more complicated for the defender than coping with a one dimensional attack.

100km ranged torpedoes? Does anyone have more information on the torpedoes shown? From my viewing it showed two models, one with pumpjet and the other without, I’m guessing the one with pumpjet is the 100km ranged one?

There already is a 650mm Russian heavyweight torpedo, type 65, which have such a range.
50 km @ 93 km/h
100 km @ 56 km/h
So maybe a development of that

http://rusnavy.com/science/weapons/underseaweapon/index.php