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Submarine Proliferation
India Current Capabilities
Capabilities | Import | Export
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The Indian Navy currently deploys 16 submarines, which are based at Vishakhapatnam on the east coast and Mumbai on the west coast. A third base is being built on the west coast at Karwar as well.[1] The most modern vessels are four Shishumar-class Type 209/1500 units designed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW). Ten Sindhugosh-class Type 877EM vessels form the backbone of the submarine force and are being upgraded to launch Klub/3M-54E Alfa cruise missiles. Two aging Foxtrot-class boats are in the process of being decommissioned and will be replaced with six Scorpène-class boats.[2,3] For the past two decades, India has also been working on the development of an indigenous nuclear-propelled submarine, referred to as the advanced technology vessel (ATV). The ATV project, which began in the 1980s, is a complex project that has faced multiple difficulties. Although there have been few signs of progress of late, one vessel is reportedly now under construction at Mazagon Docks, Ltd., with sea trials expected in 2009 at the earliest.[16] [For more information on the ATV program, please see the "ATV Nuclear Submarine Program" information in the NIS Nuclear and Missile Database.]
The Indian Navy's area of operation includes the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. These waters include numerous sea lines of communication (SLOC) chokepoints, such as the Strait of Hormuz, Bab El Mandeb, and the Malacca Straits. Almost 97% of India's foreign trade by volume and 60% of the world's sea-borne trade and energy resources are transported through these strategic bottlenecks. This share of critical global trade is likely to be amplified by the growing energy demands and industrial exports of East and Southeast Asia.[2,4,5]
Consequently, one of the Indian Navy's fundamental tasks involves the establishment of sea control to protect its vital SLOCs. It has traditionally paid particular attention to Pakistani Navy developments, as India and Pakistan have had numerous hot and cold conflicts over the years. Gradually, though, the focus of the Indian Navy is shifting to the Chinese Navy, as acknowledged in the recently publicized Indian Maritime Doctrine. This document reiterates earlier calls for a stronger deterrent capability against foreign intervention by non-littoral navies.[6] With this in mind, India has been modernizing its fleet and has been continually interested in procuring nuclear attack and diesel submarines, establishing two aircraft carrier groups, and developing new cruise missiles.[2,4] Deterrence against non-littoral navies is not limited to China, however. The recent and planned acquisitions of naval vessels by a number of ASEAN nations are also mentioned in the doctrine.[6] In addition, the deployment of a US carrier task force to the Bay of Bengal during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war is unlikely to have been forgotten. As such, the continued US presence at Diego Garcia and Bahrain may represent a concern to the Indian Navy as well.[2,4,7]
Aside from sea control and denial roles, the Indian Navy executes counter-terrorism, anti-drug trafficking, and anti-piracy operations within its area of interest. These roles are complicated not only by the great amount of shipping traffic, but also by the size of India's exclusive economic zone of 2.02 million square kilometers, to which 1.5 million square kilometers will be added in 2004 in accordance with international treaties.[2,4] The aforementioned choke points, in particular, represent attractive targets for potential terrorist attacks.
India's ambitions for a sea-based nuclear deterrent were acknowledged in 1998. After executing a number of nuclear tests, the government declared that its future minimum nuclear deterrent (MND) would be based on a triad: a combination of airborne, naval, and land-based platforms. The recently released maritime doctrine clarifies this still further, calling specifically for the establishment of a submarine-based MND.[5,6] The triad could be completed with the successful conclusion of India's ATV program, with a lease of nuclear submarines, or perhaps, to a lesser extent, with the acquisition of air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines.[8] India has had experience leasing a nuclear-powered submarine: from 1988 to 1991 it leased a Project 670 Skat (NATO name Charlie I) class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine from the Soviet Union, the K-43 (renamed Chakra while in Indian service). The reactors were operated by a Soviet crew and the vessel was returned to the Soviet Union.[15] [For more information on the possible lease of a Russian nuclear submarine, please see the Russia: Export Behavior page.]
Given the various tasks and increasing role assigned to the Indian Navy, an earlier strategic review and Project 75, a 30-year procurement plan, have allegedly called for the procurement of 24 submarines to "maintain adequate operational force levels." These boats should be comprised of two locally built submarine classes.[4,8,9,10] On October 6, 2005, India signed a contract with France's Armaris (a joint venture between France's DCN and Spain's Navantia, formerly Izar) for six Scorpène-class vessels with an option for an additional six units, to be constructed at the Mazagon Shipyard in Mumbai. The first boat is to be delivered in 2012, with the rest following over the course of five years. India is reportedly considering the installation of MESMA, the French AIP system, beginning with the third boat.[11,13] It has been suggested that the second main production line could be a version of the Russian Amur-class; six to eight Amur-1650s are on the Indian Navy's list of prospective acquisitions as part of its 30-year submarine procurement plan.[14] In 2005, Italy's Fincantieri entered a joint venture with Russia's Rubin Naval Design Bureau to develop a new diesel-electric submarine, the S1000, using AIP technology. The Russian partner has indicated they it make available certain design aspects of the Amur class.[18] India was the first country to receive a briefing on the new submarine and is reportedly considering an Italian offer to build six boats for $3.5 billion.
Various territorial questions with India's neighbors remain unresolved and could lead to renewed tensions involving the Indian Navy. India contests its borders with both Pakistan and China in Kashmir. Oil and gas is exploration is also under way in the Sir Creek Estuary, the boundary of which is debated by Pakistan. Finally, Bangladesh and India have both laid claim to New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island.[7,12]
| Project 75 (Scorpène) | ||
| Displacement, tons: | 1,668 surfaced 1,908 submerged |
 |
| Dimensions, ft (m): | 217.8 x 20.3 x 19.0 (66.4 x 6.2 x 5.8) | |
| Main machinery: | diesel-electric | |
| Speed, knots: | 12 surfaced 20 submerged |
|
| Range, miles: | 6,500 at 8
knots, surfaced 550 at 4 knots, submerged |
|
| Complement: | 31 (6 officers) | |
|
Diving depth, ft (m): |
984 (300) | |
| Endurance: | 50 days | |
| Weapons: |
18 SSMs and torpedoes; six 21" (533 mm) tubes, four of which can launch SSMs |
|
|
Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003), p. 300. A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, p. 293. David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), p. 248-249. "Galeria de Fotos," Chilean Navy Webpage, http://www.armada.cl/p4_armada/site/edic/base/port/galeria.html. |
||
| Shishumar (Type 209/1500) | ||
| Displacement, tons: | 1,660 surfaced 1,850 submerged |
 |
| Dimensions, ft (m): | 211.2 x 21.3 x 19.7 (64.4 x 6.5 x 6.0) | |
| Main machinery: | diesel-electric | |
| Speed, knots: | 13 surfaced 22.5 submerged |
|
| Range, miles: | 18,000 at
4.5 knots, surfaced 8,200 at 8 knots, snorkeling 524 at 4 knots, submerged |
|
| Complement: | 40 (8 officers) | |
|
Diving depth, ft (m): |
853 (260) | |
| Endurance: | 50 days | |
| Weapons: |
14 torpedoes; eight 21" (533 mm) tubes; 24 mines on external mine laying belt |
|
|
Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003), p. 300. A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, p. 293-294. David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), p. 256-260. "Shishumar Class," Indian Navy Webpage, http://indiannavy.nic.in/images/shishumar2.jpg. |
||
| Sindhughosh (Project 877EM, Kilo) | ||
| Displacement, tons: |
2,325 surfaced 3,076 submerged |
 |
| Dimensions, ft (m): | 238.2 x 32.5 x 21.7 (72.6 x 9.9 x 6.6) | |
| Main machinery: | diesel-electric | |
| Speed, knots: | 10 surfaced 9 snorkeling 17 submerged |
|
| Range, miles: | 6,000 at 7
knots, snorkeling 400 at 3 knots, submerged |
|
| Complement: | 52 (13 officers) | |
|
Diving depth, ft (m): |
984 (300) | |
| Endurance: | 45 days | |
| Weapons: |
18 SSMs and torpedoes; six 21" (533 mm) tubes, two of which can launch SSMs; 24 mines in lieu of torpedoes; 8 SAM missiles for portable launcher |
|
|
Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003), p. 301. A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, p. 294. David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), p. 296-297. "Sindhughosh Class," Indian Navy Webpage, http://indiannavy.nic.in/images/sindhughosh.jpg. |
||
| Vela (Project 641M and 641K, Foxtrot) | ||
| Displacement, tons: |
1,952 surfaced 2,475 submerged |
 |
| Dimensions, ft (m): | 299.5 x 24.6 x 19.7 (91.3 x 7.5 x 6.0) | |
| Main machinery: | diesel-electric | |
| Speed, knots: | 16 surfaced 10 snorkeling 15 submerged |
|
| Range, miles: | 20,000 at 8
knots, surfaced 11,500 at 8 knots, snorkeling 380 at 2 knots, submerged |
|
| Complement: | 75 (8 officers) | |
|
Diving depth, ft (m): |
820 (250) | |
| Endurance: | 70 days | |
| Weapons: |
22 torpedoes; ten 21 in (533 mm) tubes; 44 mines in lieu of torpedoes |
|
|
Sources:
Stephen Saunders, Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003 (Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 2003), p. 301. A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, p. 294. David Miller, The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World (St. Paul: MBI Publishing Company, 2002), p. 292-293. "Vela Class," Indian Navy Webpage, http://indiannavy.nic.in/images/foxtrot.jpg. |
||
|
ACTIVE DUTY SUBMARINES | ||||||
| Name (Number) | Class | Base | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned |
| Vela (S 40) | Project 641 (Foxtrot) | Vishakhapatnam | Admiralty | — | — | August 1973 |
| Vagli (S 42) | Project 641 (Foxtrot) | Mumbai | Admiralty | — | — | August 1974 |
| Sindhugosh (S55) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Vishakhapatnam | Admiralty | — | — | April 1986 |
| Shishumar (S 44) | Shishumar (Type 209/1500) | Mumbai | HDW | May 1982 | December 1984 | September 1986 |
| Shankush (S 45) | Shishumar (Type 209/1500) | Mumbai | HDW | September 1982 | May 1984 | November 1986 |
| Sindhudvaj (S56) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Vishakhapatnam | Admiralty | — | — | June 1987 |
| Sindhuraj (S57) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Vishakhapatnam | Admiralty | — | — | October 1987 |
| Sindhuvir (S58) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Vishakhapatnam | Admiralty | — | — | May 1988 |
| Sindhuratna (S59) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Mumbai | Admiralty | — | — | November 1988 |
| Sindhukesari (S60) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Mumbai | Admiralty | — | — | December 1988 |
| Sindhukirti (S61) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Mumbai | Admiralty | — | — | December 1990 |
| Sindhuvijay (S62) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Mumbai | Admiralty | — | — | December 1990 |
| Shalki (S 46) | Shishumar (Type 209/1500) | Mumbai | Mazagon Docks | June 1984 | September 1989 | February 1992 |
| Shankul (S 47) | Shishumar (Type 209/1500) | Mumbai | Mazagon Docks | September 1989 | March 1992 | May 1994 |
| Sindhurakshak (S63) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Mumbai | Krasnoye Sormovo | — | — | December 1997 |
| Sindhushastra (S64) | Sindhugosh (Kilo) | Mumbai | Krasnoye Sormovo | — | — | July 2000 |
| — | Project 75 (Scorpène) | — | Mazagon Docks | — | 2012 | — |
| — | Project 75 (Scorpène) | — | Mazagon Docks | — | 2013 | — |
| — | Project 75 (Scorpène) | — | Mazagon Docks | — | 2014 | — |
| — | Project 75 (Scorpène) | — | Mazagon Docks | — | 2015 | — |
| — | Project 75 (Scorpène) | — | Mazagon Docks | — | 2016 | — |
| — | Project 75 (Scorpène) | — | Mazagon Docks | — | 2017 | — |
"Foxtrot (Project 641) class (SS)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://www.janes.com, March 2006.
"Procurement," Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - South Asia online edition, http://www.janes.com, April 2006.
"Sindhughosh (Kilo) (Project 877EM/8773) class (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://www.janes.com, March 2006.
"S 55 Sindhu Ghosh Class Sov Kilo," Global Security Website, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/s-sindu-ghosh.htm.
Sources:
[1] A.D. Baker, Combat Fleets of the World, pp. 289-295.
[2] "Chapter 5 - The Indian Navy and Naval Programmes,"
Indian Defence and Security - Industry, Forces and Future Trends
online edition, July 2000,
http://www.janes.com.
[3] Mohammed Ahmedullah, "Indian Navy aims at ambitions future,"
Naval Forces, 1999, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 50-54; in ProQuest Information and
Learning Company,
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[4] "Submarine and Submersible Designs, India,"
Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems
online edition, May 29, 2002,
http://juws.janes.com.
[5] Rahul Behdi, "India outlines vision of future nuclear navy,"
Jane's Defense Weekly
online edition, June 16, 2004,
http://jdw.janes.com.
[6] "Aquatic aspirations,"
Force
online edition, July 4, 2004; in "Indian article: Maritime Doctrine envisages
formidable Blue Water Capabilities," FBIS Document SAP20040709000082.
[7] Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, "Huge demands made on India's depleted navy,"
Jane's Navy International, April 1, 1999.
[8] "Asia and Far East: India,"
Military Technology, Vol. 27, No.1 (January 2003), pp. 280-284; in ProQuest
Information and Learning Company,
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[9] Rahul Bedi, “France, India enhance relations,” Jane’s Defence Weekly
online edition, July 11, 2001,
http://jdw.janes.com.
[10] Ranjit B. Rai, "Indian Navy in the 21st century,"
Naval Forces, vol. 24, no. 6, 2003; in ProQuest Information and Learning
Company,
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[11] "First Mesma AIP passes acceptance tests," Media Press Releases, DCN Web
Site,
http://www.dcn.fr.
[12] "India," CIA Factbook Web Site,
http://www.cia.gov/publications/factbook/geos/in.html#issues.
[13] Rahul Bedi and Nick Brown, "India Sets Seal on Scorpene Submarine Contract"
Jane's Navy International online edition,
http://jdw.janes.com, November 1, 2005.
[14] Rahul Bedi, "Is privatisation the panacea for India as it grapples with the
spectre of obsolescence?"
International Defence Review, Jane's Online,
http://jdw.janes.com, December 1, 2005.
[15] Yuriy Golotyuk, "My na lodke katalis...," Vremya novostey, February
15, 2001; in WPS Oborona i Bezopasnost, February 19, 2001; in Integrum Techno,
http://www.integrum.ru.
[16] "Executive Overview," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition,
http://www.janes.com, April
29, 2005.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
