The Indian Navy has discovered 35 defects along with one “killer defect” in the second Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarine, the "INS Khanderi," during its sea trials, pushing its induction by at least one year.
The defense ministry has fully supported the navy’s insistence that Mazagon Dock (MDL) and its technology partner, French warship builder Naval Group, deliver a fully seaworthy and battle-worthy vessel. “The liability of delivering a fully functional submarine is that of Naval Group. If we accept the boat with shortcomings, the liability would be on us,” a senior admiral told Business Standard on Saturday.
The most worrying problem the navy discovered is a killer defect for a submarine: Its engines and propellers were emitting an unduly high level of noise. A submarine's effectiveness and survivability is dependent on its ability to dampen all vibrations it emits, else it gives away its position to the enemy sonar units.
29 of those issues require to be tested when the sea is absolutely calm — or in what is termed “Sea State — 1”. With the monsoon imminent, calm seas are unlikely before September. Four other defects require the submarine be docked in a navy dockyard for testing. This runs up against an existing docking schedule that dockyards have already issued, involving numerous other warships.
The first submarine, INS Kalvari was inducted into service in March of this year. INS Karanj has just begun sea trials, the report added.
These submarines are among the six French-origin Scorpene submarines being built in India, named as the "Kalvari class." The $3.75 Billion (INR 26,205 crore) contract for their licensed production was signed in October 2005 under “Project 75.”
The Navy currently operates 4 German HDW-class submarines and 9 Russian Kilo-class submarines. It had last inducted a conventional diesel-electric submarine, INS Sindhushastra, procured from Russia in July 2000.
Stealth features of the Scorpene submarines include advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimized shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision-guided weapons. They can undertake multifarious types of missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance etc. India has also approved the acquisition of over 100 heavyweight torpedoes to be equipped on these submarines.
India's fourth Scorpene-class submarine INS Vela has completed its out fittings and will be launched on May 6 in the Arabian Sea, after which it is set to begin sea trials. “On May 6, the submarine will touch waters for the first time
Indias second scorpene-class submarine, INS Khanderi will be inducted into service by early May, according to a defense source. “Khanderi has completed all trials and is in the final stages of acceptance
As tensions simmer between India and Pakistan, the former country has deployed indigenously-built Scorpene-class submarine, the INS Kalvari. It is the first ever operational deployment of the INS Kalvari, as well as limited movement by ground troops to further secure the International Border in the Jammu sector, ET reported Saturday
The Indian navy is likely to induct INS Khanderi, the second Scorpene submarine on September 28, squashing earlier reports that said 36 defects found in the boat could push its commissioning date by one year. “Indian defense minister Rajnath Singh and naval chief Admiral Karambir Singh will attend the September 28 ceremony in Mumbai, being held to commission the INS Khanderi,” a navy official was quoted as saying by local media
The Indian Government issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for short-listing of potential Indian Strategic Partners (SPs) for the construction of six conventional submarines under the P-75(I) project of the Indian Navy on 20 Jun 19. The project cost is about Rs 45,000 Crores (US$6
Induction of the recently upgraded Russian-origin kilo-class submarine belonging to the Indian Navy will take nearly a month after having suffered damage in an accidental fire in March. The INS Sindhukesari diesel-electric submarine was damaged while certain indigenous components and a US-made L3 Communications periscope were being fitted onboard, at a naval dockyard in Mumbai city, located in the country's west coast
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