A list of the proposed future requirements of the Indian Navy was recently submitted to the Government by the Navy Chief, Admiral Robin Dhowan. The Indian Navy proposal includes a fleet of six nuclear powered submarines and the construction of a second indigenous aircraft carrier, which could be nuclear powered or conventionally powered.
The submarine fleet of the Indian Navy currently consists of 13 conventionally powered submarines (nine Kilo-class and four Type 209/1500 Shishumar-class) and one hunter killer Akula II-class nuclear powered submarine, leased from Russia till 2022.
Furthermore one SSBN, the INS Arihant, built at the Indian shipyards of Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) is currently undergoing sea trials, while a second, the INS Aridhaman, is being readied for launch and a third is under construction. In total India plans to build four Arihant-class SSBN before 2023.
According to the 1999 submarine plan the Indian Navy wanted to build a fleet of 24 conventional submarines by 2030. Under the current proposal the Indian Navy wants 18 conventional submarines and six nuclear powered submarines.
The Indian Navy competes with two major regional Naval Forces, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of the People’s Republic China and the Pakistani Navy. Both of them have impressive submarine fleets.
The PLAN has, in total, 69 nuclear powered and conventional submarines, including:
- Five SSBN (Four Type 094 Jin-class and one Type 092 Xia-class).
- Nine SSN (Five Type 093 Shang-class, three Type 091 Han-class and one Type 095 Han-class).
- 55 SSK (12 Kilo-class, one Type 032 Qin-class, 13 Type 093A Yuan-class, 13 Type 093 Song-class and 17 old Type 035A/B/G Ming-class).
The Pakistani Navy has five submarines:
- Two SSK Agosta-class submarine (Hashmat-class).
- Three SSK Agosta 90B-class submarines (known as Khalid-class, equipped with Air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems).
The Indian Navy submarine fleet does not have sufficient numbers to cover existing and future requirements.
At the moment the Indian Navy is building six Scorpene-class conventional submarines, with the first one planned for commission in 2016. The next step is the order of the second lot of six such vessels (Project 75I-class submarine) and the third is a refit program that will allow the extension of the life of the existing 13 vessels.
Furthermore, the Indian Navy is considering leasing the Akula II-class (Project 971) nuclear powered submarine Kashalot (K-322) from the Russian Navy. According to information published last month the Indian Navy is going to receive the Russian submarine in 2018 and keep it for 10 years.
The new list of requirements of the Indian Navy mainly includes the completion of the construction of the last two Arihant-class SSBN and two nuclear powered submarines, including the Russian submarine Kashalot (K-322).
The second most important priority of the Indian Navy is the construction of their second ever home-designed aircraft carrier. The Indian shipyards have obtained significant experience from the construction of the first indigenous aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, which is going to be delivered to the Navy in 2018.
Based on this experience the Indian Navy hopes to build a new 65.000 ton aircraft carrier, the INS Vishal, which is likely to be nuclear powered and equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch (EMAL) CATOBAR system. The target of the Indian Navy, is to have three aircraft carriers by 2023, the INS Vikramaditya, the INS Vikrant and the INS Vishal.