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Kalvari-class submarine (2015)

Summary

The Kalvari-class submarines, formally classified as the Project-75 submarines (P-75), is a class of diesel-electric attack submarines operated by the Indian Navy (IN).[9] Currently being constructed by a syndicate of French and Indian shipyards, namely, Naval Group and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) respectively, the class is an export derivative of the French-origin Scorpène-class submarine, originally designed by Naval Group.[10]

Kalvari at sea
Class overview
NameKalvari class
BuildersMazagon Dock Limited
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded by
Succeeded byProject 75I-class submarine
Cost
  • ₹23,652 crore (equivalent to ₹340 billion or US$4.3 billion in 2023) for six units
  • ₹3,942 crore (equivalent to ₹57 billion or US$710 million in 2023) per unit (FY 2016)
In commission2017 – present
Planned9[1][2]
On order3
Completed6
Active5
General characteristics
TypeAttack submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 1,615 tonnes (1,589 long tons)
  • Submerged: 1,775 tonnes (1,747 long tons)
Length67.5 m (221 ft 5 in)[4]
Beam6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)[3]
Height12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)[4]
Draught5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)[3]
Propulsion
  • 4 x MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines[3]
  • 360 x battery cells
  • DRDO PAFC Fuel Cell AIP (Expected to be added in Fleet I submarines from 2023 onwards)
Speed
  • Surfaced: 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
  • Submerged: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range
  • 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 550 nmi (1,020 km; 630 mi) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) (submerged)[5]
Endurance50 days[6]
Test depth350 metres (1,150 ft)[7]
Complement
  • 8 officers
  • 35 sailors
Electronic warfare
& decoys		C303/S anti-torpedo countermeasure system[8]
Armament

A namesake of the former-Foxtrot-class submarines that the IN operated between 1967 and 2010, the class was originally planned in the late-1990s as an initial phase of a 30-year long naval rearmament roadmap to replace the IN's conventional submarine fleet, namely the Sindhughosh-class and Shishumar-class submarines.[11] [12] India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) ordered an introductory batch of six submarines in 2005, at an initially-estimated cost of ₹13,000 crore (equivalent to ₹440 billion or US$5.5 billion in 2023); of the ordered six, five are currently in operational service.[13] In addition to the first batch, a proposal for the purchase of three more submarines was approved in 2023, at an estimated cost of ₹36,000 crore (US$4.5 billion).[14]

First introduced to operational service in 2017, the submarines are currently operated by the IN for a variety of missions, namely, littoral surveillance, intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and minelaying operations.[9]

History edit

Origins edit

In 1997, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) - the highest-decision making body of India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), approved a proposal for the purchase of two Type 209/1500 attack submarines (SSK) for the Indian Navy (IN), at a then-estimated cost of INR ₹700 crore.[15] The two examples of the design , originally conceived by the German-based Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, were proposed to be built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), located in Mumbai, with the assistance of a foreign naval firm in a corroborative role.[15]

In accordance with the scheme, the IN and MDL approached several naval enterprises for assistance; however, the French-based Thomson-CSF (TCSF) was the only firm willing to participate.[15] Two years later, in 1999, the MoD approved a two-phase plan to build 24 submarines over a 30-year period.[15] For the first phase, which called for the construction of SSKs at MDL, two options were proposed: the former option recommending the construction of the Type 209/1500 at MDL with the assistance of TCSF; the latter option recommending the construction of SSKs based on the newer Scorpène submarine design, conceived by the French-based Armaris (later DCNS, now Naval Group).[15]

Ultimately, the IN chose the latter, reasoning that the Scorpène, which had been offered with a provision of technology transfer (TOT), was more advanced than the Type 209/1500.[15] Another reason for choosing the Scorpène design was because of the IN’s interest in acquiring submarine-launched missiles.[15] At the time, the French-designed Exocet, the US-designed Harpoon and the Russian-designed Kalibr were the only such missiles that were commercially obtainable; however, the Harpoon was unavailable to the IN and the Kalibr was incompatible with the Type 209/1500's torpedo tubes.[15] This led to the Exocet being preferred and subsequently, the Scorpène design.[15] It was also thought that the Scorpène design won the deal because of its capability to fire Exocet anti-ship missiles and an agreement on the air-independent propulsion.[16]

Orders edit

Batch-I:
On 6 October 2005, India signed a series of contracts for transfer of technology to construct six submarines at MDL with Armaris, along with the supply of SM39 Exocet missiles manufactured by MBDA. DCN International was designated as the prime contractor in partnership with Navantia. Armaris was responsible for supply of combat systems and technical advisors for construction of submarines at MDL. Valued at a then-total cost of €2.4 billion[17], the deal included a 30% offset clause and a delivery timeline wherein the six ordered units were to be delivered between 2012 and 2017.[17][18]

Batch-II:
On 10 July 2023, the MoD's Defence Procurement Board (DPB) greenlighted the acquisition of three additional submarines, which was further cleared the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) three days later, on 13 July.[19]

In December 2023, MDL submitted a bid of over ₹20,000 crore (US$2.5 billion) to construct the three submarines, equipped with higher measures of indigenous along with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) module for enhanced underwater endurance.[20][21]

Batch-I construction timeline edit

2006-2007: The steel cutting for the first submarine, the Kalvari commences on 14 December 2006, with its hull construction beginning on 23 May 2007.[4][22] However, issues erupt shortly after, when it is discovered that the 2005 contract had inexplicably omitted to include assorted critical components essential to the submarines like engines, generators, sub-assemblies and raw materials including specialized steel as part of the deal; this issue subsequently forces the CCS, then headed by prime minister Manmohan Singh into approving an extra ₹19 billion for the newly formed Mazagaon Procurement Materials (MPM) - the enitity created to source this supplementary equipment.[23] The protracted negotiations to purchase the gear last almost two years and raises the overall submarine contract price by 10.1%, delaying the delivery of Kalvari to 2016-17.[23]

2011: The project suffers another setback following a breach and flooding at MDL’s dockyard in which components, including sections of the already fabricated hull of at least one of the six SSKs, were submerged under seawater; however, the incident is dismissed by the IN as a "minor obstacle".[23]

2015: After eight years in construction, Kalvari is finally launched on 28 October and commences sea trials a year later, on 1 May 2016.[4]

2016: In June, initial plans to purchase ninety-eight Black Shark torpedoes from the Italian-based munitions manufacturer Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) was cancelled in response to corruption allegations against WASS's sister company, AgustaWestland.[24][25] Although alternatives, such as the SeaHake torpedoes from Germany's Atlas Elektronik and the F21 torpedoes France's Naval Group were considered, the MoD resorted to install its existing inventory of older AEG SUT 264 torpedoes on the submarines as a stopgap measure.[26][27]

2023: Vagsheer, the last of the six submarines commences its maiden sea sortie on 19 May, with delivery scheduled for early-2024.[28][29]

Design and description edit

The Kalvari class is capable of offensive operations across the entire spectrum of naval warfare including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.[30] It has a length of 67.5 m (221 ft 5 in), height of 12.3 m (40 ft 4 in), overall beam of 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in) and a draught of 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in). It can reach a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) when submerged and a maximum speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) when surfaced. The submarine has a range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) when surfaced.[3] Each ship is powered by four MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines, has 360 battery cells (750 kg, 1,650 lb each), for power and has a silent Permanently Magnetised Propulsion Motor. The hull, fin and hydroplanes are designed for minimum underwater resistance and all equipment inside the pressure hull is mounted on shock absorbing cradles for enhanced stealth.[4] Special steel was used in its construction which has high tensile strength, capable of withstanding high yield stress and hydro-static force. Each submarine has 60 km (37 mi) of cabling and 11 km (6.8 mi) of piping.[30] The class displaces 1,615 tonnes (1,589 long tons) when surfaced and 1,775 t (1,747 long tons) when submerged.[31]

This class is equipped with six 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes for a combination of 18 heavyweight wire-guided German-made Surface and Underwater Target (SUT) torpedoes and SM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles or 30 mines in place of both.[32][33] The class is also fitted with mobile C303/S anti-torpedo decoys for self-defence.[25][4] The weapon systems and sensors are integrated with Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System (SUBTICS). It has a sonar system is capable of Low Frequency Analysis and Ranging (LOFAR) enabling long range detection and classification.[4] Each submarine has a complement of 8 officers and 35 sailors.[34]

In February 2024, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the purchase of 48 heavyweight torpedoes for Kalvari class through a global tender to partially fulfil Navy's need of the weapon type until the indigenous torpedo of similar type, submarine version of Varunastra, clears all the trials.[35][36]

Operational history edit

On 24 March 2024, a Kalvari class submarine reached, the Campbell Bay, the southernmost port of India in the Nicobar Islands, for the first time.[37][38]

Ships of the class edit

Name Pennant Yard Builder Launched Commissioned Homeport Status
Batch-I
Kalvari S21 11875 Mazagon Dock Limited 27 October 2015[4] 14 December 2017[39] Active
Khanderi[40] S22[41] 11876 12 January 2017[42] 28 September 2019[43]
Karanj S23 11877[44] 31 January 2018[45] 10 March 2021[46][47][48]
Vela[49] S24 11878[50] 6 May 2019[51] 25 November 2021 [52]
Vagir[53] S25 11879[54] 12 November 2020[53] 23 January 2023[55][56][57]
Vagsheer S26 11880 20 April 2022[58] March 2024 (expected)[59] Sea trials[29]
Batch-II
TBD Mazagon Dock Limited To be ordered[19]
TBD
TBD

Gallery edit

  •  
    Kalvari class submarine up close during an exercise.
  •  
    Trio of Kalvari class submarine during an exercise.
  •  
    Kalvari class and Shishumar class submarine during exercise.
  •  
    Khanderi at sea.
  •  
    Vela during sea trials.
  •  
    DRDO AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) model for Kalvari-class submarine
  •  
    Silhouette profile of Kalvari-class submarine.
  • Vagir

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Ghosh, Sanchari (10 July 2023). "PM Modi to ink deal with France to acquire 26 Rafale-M fighters, three attack submarines". The Mint.
  2. ^ "India Drops Plans to Add 3 More French Stealth Attack Submarines". The Diplomat. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Rahmat, Ridzwan (7 June 2017). "India's second Scorpène submarine begins sea trials". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Curtain Raiser : Kalvari to be Commissioned Tomorrow at Mumbai". pib.nic.in. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. ^ Commodore Stephen Saunders, ed. (2005). "India". Jane's Fighting Ships 2005-2006 (108th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. p. 308. ISBN 0710626924.
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  7. ^ "Scorpene 1000". DCNS. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. ^ Bedi, Rahul (31 January 2018). "India launches third Scorpène-class submarine". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Kalvari-Class Attack Submarines, India". www.naval-technology.com. 28 October 2021.
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  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "UNDUE FAVOUR TO VENDOR IN ACQUISITION OF SUBMARINES - MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (2009-10)" (PDF). eparlib.nic.in.
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  32. ^ Bonsignore, Luca (2005). ""Carrera": The first real Spanish export-submarine floated". Naval Forces. Vol. 26, no. 1. Aldershot: Monch Publications. p. 135. ISSN 0722-8880. 18 torpedoes and missiles can be carried otherwise 30 mines.
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  53. ^ a b Desk, India com News (12 November 2020). "Indian Navy's Fifth Scorpene-Class Submarine INS Vagir Launched". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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  55. ^ "INS Vagir, 5th submarine of Kalvari class, commissioned into Indian Navy". www.hindustantimes.com. 23 January 2023.
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