Arihant class submarine

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India's 5,000-ton Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) is expected to enter service by 2012.
Artist's depiction of the Arihant class SSBN
Class overview
Name: Arihant (अरिहंत:)
Builders: Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Operators:  Indian Navy
In commission: 2012- (est.)
Building: 4[1]
Planned: 4
General characteristics
Type: Ballistic missile submarine
Displacement: 6,000 tons[2]
Length: 112 m (367 ft)[2]
Beam: 15 m (49 ft) (Est.)
Draft: 10 m (33 ft) (Est.)
Propulsion: 83MW PWR[1] using 40% enriched uranium fuel; 1 turbine (47,000hp/70MW); 1 shaft; 1 7-bladed, high-skew propeller
Speed: 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) (surfaced); 24 knots (44 km/h) (submerged)
Range: unlimited except by food supplies
Test depth: 300 m (980 ft) (est)
Complement: 95
Sensors and
processing systems:		 USHUS Sonar
Armament:

Torpedoes: 6 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes - est. 30 charges (torpedoes, missiles or mines)[3]
4 launch tubes (2.4 meter dia each)[4]

  • 12 x K15 SLBM (3 in each launch tube) or
  • 4 x K-4[1][5] SLBM (Under development)

The Arihant class submarines (Sanskrit: अरिहंत:, meaning "Slayer of Enemies") are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines[6] under development by the Indian Navy. The lead vessel of the class, INS Arihant, is expected to complete its harbour acceptance trials in February 2012.[1] Four vessels of the class are under development and expected to be in commission by 2015.

The Arihant class vessels are India's first indigenously designed and built nuclear submarine.[7] They were developed under the US$2.9 billion Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to design and build nuclear-powered submarines.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Contents

[edit] History

India continued to harbour deep ambivalence about nuclear weapons and did not accord a priority to their production until the 1970s. In December 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Richard Nixon sent a carrier battle group led by the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) into the Bay of Bengal in an attempt to intimidate India. In response, the Soviet Union sent a submarine armed with nuclear missiles from Vladivostok to trail the US task force. The salutary effect of the Soviet response demonstrated the deterrent significance of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile submarines to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.[14] Following the 1974 Smiling Buddha nuclear test, the Director of Marine Engineering (DME) at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) initiated a technical feasibility study for an indigenous nuclear propulsion system (Project 932).

The Indian Navy's Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Project to design and construct a nuclear submarine took shape in the 1990s. First confirmation of the project came in 1998 from then Defence Minister, George Fernandes.[15] The initial intent of the project was to design nuclear-powered fast attack submarines, though following Pokhran-II and Indian pledge of no first use, the project was re-aligned towards the design of a ballistic missile submarine[16] in order to complete India's nuclear triad.[17]

The ATV project overcame many challenges, the primary one being the design and miniaturization of the nuclear reactor.[18] The lead vessel was first floated from its dry dock at a symbolic launch ceremony on 26 July 2009.[19]

[edit] Development

The Arihant class submarines are powered by an 83 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) with highly enriched uranium fuel.[6][20] The miniaturized naval-version of the reactor was designed and built by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam.[21] A land-based prototype of the marine PWR was first built at Kalpakkam. It included a 42-meter section of the submarine's pressure hull containing the shielding tank with water and the reactor, a control room, as well as an auxiliary control room for monitoring safety parameters.[22] The prototype reactor became critical on 11 November 2003 and was declared operational on 22 September 2006.[14] Successful operation of the prototype for three years yielded the data and the confidence that enabled the production version of the reactor for Arihant.[23][24]

Separately, infrastructure for testing the reactor subsystems was setup at the Machinery Test Centre in Visakhapatnam. Facilities for loading and replacing the fuel cores of the naval reactors in berthed submarines were also established at the Ship Building Centre.[14]

The hulls for this class were built by Larsen and Toubro at their Hazira shipbuilding facility. Tata Power SED built the control systems for the submarine. The steam turbines and associated systems integrated with the PWR were supplied by Walchandnagar Industries.[25]

The lead vessel underwent a long and extensive process of testing after its "launch" in July 2009.[26] Every sub-system of the propulsion and power systems on board the submarine was repeatedly tested with high-pressure steam trials of all pipelines. Finally, the reactor on board INS Arihant went critical in 2011[1] when the zirconium rods in the reactor were gradually removed.[27] This was followed by harbour-acceptance trials that included submersion tests by flooding its ballast tanks and controlled dives to limited depths. The sea-acceptance trials are expected to begin in February 2011.[1] This will include operation at different speeds and different depths, before the final weapons acceptance trials, consisting of test-firing of all her SLBMs and torpedoes.[28][29] Data gathered from her acceptance trials is expected to aid the development of nuclear submarines to follow.[30] INS Arihant is expected to be ready for operational deployment by the end of 2012.[31]

Three more submarines of her class were under construction, as of January 2012.[1]

[edit] Details

The Arihant class submarines are reported to be comparable to the Charlie II class submarines, which India leased from the Soviet Union between 1988 and 1991.[32] Their crew will have the opportunity to train on an Akula II class nuclear attack submarine, that the Indian Navy leased from Russia[16] since December 2011.[33]

The submarines have four launch tubes in their hump. They can carry up to 12 750 km K-15 Sagarika missiles with 8 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV) each[34] or 4 of the under-development 3500 km range K-4 missiles.[35]

The hull features twin flank-array sonars and Rafael broadband expendable anti-torpedo countermeasures. The UPA government's report card carried an image of the lead vessel, which provided the first public glimpse of the completed submarine.[36]

[edit] Ships in class

Name Pennant Builder Launch Sea Trials Commissioning Status
INS Arihant Shipbuilding Centre Vishakapatnam 26 July 2009 2012[37][38] 2013[39] Completed[37]
INS Aridhaman Shipbuilding Centre Vishakapatnam 2012[40] Under Construction[41][1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "India to achieve N-arm triad in February". The Times of India. 2012-01-02. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-to-achieve-N-arm-triad-in-February/articleshow/11332636.cms. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  2. ^ a b "India reaches milestone with launch of n-powered submarine - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 2009-07-26. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_india-reaches-milestone-with-launch-of-n-powered-submarine_1277227. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  3. ^ John Pike (2009-07-27). "Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)". Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/atv-specs.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  4. ^ http://www.indiaresearch.org/Shourya_Missile.pdf
  5. ^ "Livefist - Indian Defence & Aerospace: MAG REPORT: India's Secret K-Missile Family". Livefist.blogspot.com. 2010-11-21. http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/11/mag-report-indias-secret-k-missile.html. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  6. ^ a b Pandit, Rajat (2009-07-17). "India set to launch nuclear-powered submarine". The Times Of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-India-India-set-to-launch-nuclear-powered-submarine/articleshow/4787167.cms. 
  7. ^ "Final test of K-15 ballistic missile on Tuesday". 2008-02-25. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Final+test+of+K-15+ballistic+missile+on+Tuesday/1/5002.html. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  8. ^ "Indian indigenous nuclear sub to be unveiled on 26 July: report". domain-b.com. 2009-07-16. http://www.domain-b.com/defence/general/20090716_indian_indigenous.html. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  9. ^ "India nuclear sub project near completion". In.reuters.com. 2009-02-12. http://in.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idINISL35153320090212. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  10. ^ "PM to launch indigenous nuke submarine by month-end". MSN. July 16, 2009. http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3097464. Retrieved July 19, 2009. 
  11. ^ "Indigenous nuclear submarine goes on trial". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2009-07-19. http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/19/stories/2009071958490500.htm. Retrieved July 19, 2009. 
  12. ^ By Hari SudColumn: Abroad View Published: August 14, 2009 (2009-08-14). "India's nuclear submarine and the Indian Ocean". upiasia.com. http://www.upiasia.com/Security/2009/08/14/indias_nuclear_submarine_and_the_indian_ocean/7676/. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  13. ^ "India's nuclear submarine dream, still miles to go". Reuters. 2009-07-31. http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2009/07/31/indias-nuclear-submarine-dream-still-miles-to-go/. 
  14. ^ a b c "Arihant: the annihilator". Indian Defence Review. 2010-10-25. http://www.indiandefencereview.com/2010/02/arihant-the-annihilator.html. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  15. ^ "George defends position on China". Indianexpress.com. 1998-05-19. http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980519/13950884.html. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  16. ^ a b John Pike. "Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)". Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/atv.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  17. ^ "First indigenous nuclear sub is inducted into the navy - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 2009-07-26. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_first-indigenous-nuclear-sub-is-inducted-into-the-navy_1277218. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  18. ^ "India's nuclear sub still a distant dream". Rediff.com. 2001-02-16. http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/feb/16josy4.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  19. ^ "defence.professionals". defpro.com. 2009-07-28. http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/364/. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  20. ^ "High fissile fuel in nuclear submarine lasts long". Chennai, India: Hindu.com. 2009-11-05. http://www.hindu.com/seta/2009/11/05/stories/2009110551721200.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  21. ^ "INS Arihant is an Indian design: Anil Kakodkar". The Hindu. 2009-08-16. http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/16/stories/2009081655260900.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  22. ^ "Unveiled: Arihant’s elder brother". Telegraphindia.com. 2009-08-03. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090803/jsp/nation/story_11313999.jsp. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  23. ^ "PWR building shows indigenous capability, says Kakodkar". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2009-08-02. http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/03/stories/2009080353810100.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-02. 
  24. ^ "Arihant propulsion reactor unveiled". Hindustan Times. 2009-08-02. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=5721403d-8f66-43e2-92c4-4f3148032565&Headline=Arihant+propulsion+reactor+unveiled. Retrieved 2009-08-02. 
  25. ^ "Private sector played a major role in Arihant - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 2009-07-27. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_private-sector-played-a-major-role-in-arihant_1277435. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
  26. ^ "Nuclear submarine Arihant to be fitted with K-15 ballistic missiles". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2009-07-27. http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/27/stories/2009072755801000.htm. 
  27. ^ Sandeep Unnithan (23 Jul 2009). "Deep impact". India Today. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/53210/Deep+impact.html?page=0. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 
  28. ^ "PM launches INS Arihant in Visakhapatnam". The Times Of India. 2009-07-26. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/PM-launches-INS-Arihant-in-Visakhapatnam/articleshow/4820660.cms. 
  29. ^ Arihant Class Submarine - Naval Technology
  30. ^ "Home-made nuke sub INS Arihant to be inducted in 2 years". The Times of India. 2009-12-03. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-03/india/28110779_1_ins-arihant-nuclear-powered-attack-submarines-technology-vessel. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  31. ^ Siddiqui, Huma (December 6, 2011). "N-powered Arihant to be ready by '12 end". The Financial Express. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/npowered-arihant-to-be-ready-by-12-end/884456/. Retrieved December 28, 2011. 
  32. ^ Von Kospoth, Nicolas (2009-07-28). "India's INS Arihant Makes First Contact with Water". Defense Professionals Daily. http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/364/. Retrieved 2009-09-10. 
  33. ^ "Leased Russian n-submarine to set sail for India this month end". 2011-12-15. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/leased-russian-n-submarine-to-set-sail-for-india-this-month-end/1/164449.html. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  34. ^ "The secret undersea weapon". India Today. 2008-01-17. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/The+secret+undersea+weapon/1/3659.html. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  35. ^ "The secret 'K' missile family". India Today. 2010-11-20. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/the-secret-k-missile-family/1/120488.html. Retrieved 2012-01-08. 
  36. ^ INS Arihant image
  37. ^ a b "Chinese submarines a concern: Indian Navy Chief". IBN Live. 2 November 2011. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chinese-submarines-a-concern-indian-navy-chief/208052-3.html. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 
  38. ^ Sea trials soon of India's indigenous n-submarine
  39. ^ Second nuclear submarine headed for year-end launch
  40. ^ Second nuclear submarine headed for year-end launch
  41. ^ "भारत बना रहा है दूसरी परमाणु पनडुब्बी INS अरिदमन-देश - IBN Khabar". Khabar.ibnlive.in.com. 2011-05-23. http://khabar.ibnlive.in.com/news/53480/1. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 

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