Another Nuclear Power in the Oceans of the World

Posted By Subsunk

India's nuclear-powered submarine ready

United Press International, July 13, 2009

If all goes as planned, India, according to various reports, will soon join the exclusive club of nations with their own domestically built nuclear-powered submarines, marking a giant leap for its naval defense.

More than 20 years in the making and until now known only as the Advanced Technology Vehicle project, the Indian navy's new nuclear-powered submarine named INS Chakra is expected to be launched in the coming weeks to begin its sea trials.

 

The report said the 7,700-ton INS Chakra will undergo sea trials for several months after entering the waters of the Bay of Bengal from the Vishakhapatnam port in southeastern Andhra Pradesh state. It is designed to carry intermediate-range submarine-launched missiles that have already been tested on the eastern coast, the report said.

The INS Chakra is the first of five such nuclear-powered submarines India reportedly plans under its Advanced Technology Vessel program to complete its triad of air, land and sea-based nuclear weapons systems.

The nuclear-powered submarine is also seen as helping to strengthen the navy's presence in its traditional sea lanes in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean and to keep its sea lines of communication open and unhindered.

The Financial Times reported the INS Chakra, which cost about $2.9 billion, is based on the Russian Akula-I class submarine. Its pressurized water reactor was developed at the atomic research center in Kalpakkam in southern Tamil Nadu state.

 

"This is a historic and big step forward. The project is quite indigenous and it opens the door for deploying nuclear weapons in the ocean," C. Raja Mohan, professor of south Asian studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told the Financial Times.

One Indian expert told the Financial Times that China, with eight nuclear submarines and three times the number of combat vessels, is quite ahead of  India.

Separately, Indian media reports said Russia had resumed pre-delivery trials this month of its Akula class nuclear submarine to be leased to the Indian navy later this year. The Financial Times said India also is waiting to take delivery of a 30-year-old refitted Russian aircraft carrier as wells as building six French-designed Scorpene diesel submarines.

Commenting on the disclosure a senior Indian official reaffirmed that  New Delhi has no plans to sign the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, reported the Indian press.

“No sir,” said Minister of State Prithviraj Chavan when asked whether  India has the intention to join the pact, which enlists signatory nations to promote non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

The other five countries which already possess nuclear powered submarines are the United States, Russia, Great Britain, France and  China, all permanent members of the UN Security council.

India is one of a handful of nations known or widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons – including rival Pakistan and Israel – that has refused to sign the non proliferation document.

So much for nonproliferation, folks. The Akula class is a very quiet Russian submarine and probably the only hostile competition for the United States Submarine Force. Although the Chinese, and other countries have nuclear submarines as well, the Russians have a seafaring history and some experience at submarine warfare (not much good experience, but they are capable of learning and not repeating mistakes and were formidable opponents during the Cold War). The Chinese are "uncomfortable" at sea in submarines. They do not have a long history of successful submarine operations, althought there is no reason to doubt their stated capabilities. The Indians will have some growing pains.

 

The Akula SSN that the Russians are selling them had an accident on onboard when a fire suppression (Halon) system was inadvertently activated and killed 20 sailors and shipyard workers. The Russians usually take their damaged goods and sell them off because they figure it is too hard to fix them. So the Indians will be stuck with the lemon Akula for a bit and work out the kinks on their program using it as a test case, I believe. Not that it will be a test or research submarine. Just that they will make their mistakes on the damaged goods boat, and use the lessons learned to make their indigenous craft come out better.

 

The oceans are getting more crowded every day. This is a big deal in the Pacific and Indian Oceans

Subsunk out.