Indian Navy’s Fourth Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette Launched

It’s an important day for the Indian Navy.  Kavaratti, the last of the four anti submarine warfare ASW class stealth corvettes, being built by Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers (GRSE) has been launched by wife of Minister of State for Defense, Inderjit Rao in Kolkata today

Kavaratti is 90% indigenous and the ship is well equipped to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare conditions. It’s weapon’s and censor’s suite is predominantly indigenous, showcasing the nation’s capabilities in developing and deploying high performance,sophisticated weapon system and equipment. 

Kavaratti like its predecessor, also boasts of ‘firsts’ such as the revolutionary Rail Less  Helo Transversing System , Foldable Hanger Door, use of Personal Locator System  and use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic.

Kavaratti is a silent high speed mover. It has a common raft mounted Gear Box and Diesel Engines, which give the ship very low radiated underwater noise. This is further complemented with an efficient propeller with very high cavitation inception speed.

With the displacement of 3300 tonnes the sleek and magnificent Kavaratti spans 109.1 meters in length and 13.7 meters at beam. The ship is propelled by four diesel engines to achieve speed in excess of 25 knots and has an endurance of more than 3400 nm.

The ship also has Total Atmospheric Control System , and an Integrated Platform Management System which includes Integrated Bridge System and Battle Damage Control System.

Enhanced stealth features have been achieved by ‘X’ form of hull, full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and use of Infra Red Signature Suspension System for cooling the engine and generator exhausts.

Designed by Directorate of Naval Design and built by Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers Ltd, Kolkata, the contract for construction of four P 28 ships was signed on 11 June 2012, at the cost of about Rs 7800 crore ..Kavaratti, is being built under Project  28 of the Indian Navy . The first three P 28 ships are Kamorta, Kadmatt, Kiltan. P 28 ship have been constructed using high grade indigenous steel . Kamorta was delivered to Indian Navy on 12 July 2014 and was commissioned on 23 Aug 2014. Kadmatt and Kiltan are scheduled to be delivered between 2015- 17.

Defence Reporter

Project 75I - Who will get the pie?

New Delhi : Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan has expressed satisfaction with the progress of sea trials of the first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day National Aviation seminar to mark 62 years of naval aviation in the country on 30th April, 2015. On being asked about Project 75I, the Navy Chief said that the evaluation of the capabilities of various shipyards was in its final stages and the report would be ready shortly. All eyes are now set on the report that will determine ‘who gets what’ in Project 75I.

Project 75I (India)
Project 75I is designed to purchase six next-generation diesel submarines with Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) technology for the Indian Navy by 2022. While conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries, AIP systems will help the submarines stay submerged for longer periods. Apart from AIP, the new submarines will have advanced detection range and combat management systems and better sensors for optimum performance. The weapon system would be a mix of torpedoes and missiles.
The six new submarines in P-75I project will outline various critical parameters including the weight and design of the submarine. The Project 75I submarines are expected to be bigger than the 1800-tonnes Scorpene class being built for P-75 project. The AIP systems will enable greater underwater endurance. Besides, they will also incorporate stealth, land-attack capability and other technological advancements.

Big Project – Big Contenders
Though the government is keen on indigenization as far as possible, there is still a need for foreign cooperation in this project. Leading international players, which have eyed India for long as one of the largest importers of submarines in the world, are currently in contention to manufacture six new stealth submarines in India. Project 75I is worth Rs 53,000 crore for six diesel-electric submarines (SSK). 
The Narendra Modi government has already shortlisted Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering Company to build six conventional submarines under this project. Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL) is already making six Scorpene submarines under Project 75. The shortlisted shipyards also include the public sector Hindustan Shipyards and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). This is for the first time that the Ministry of Defence will consider private sector shipyards for a major Indian Navy ship-building project in a head-to-head competition with the public sector.

Foreign Companies in ‘Make in India’ Mode
Germany
German defence major Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has said it will be participating in Project 75I and is ready to offer HDW Class 214 boats promising that it will be in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“The Indian Defence Ministry is expected to issue the P-75I RFP for which we are planning to offer the Type 214 submarine which combines best-in-class underwater endurance and diving depth," said Gurnad Sodhi, Managing Director of TKMS India, according to a Zee News report dated 29th March 2015. 
The report claims that the submarine has a fuel-cell based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system and is the best that is available in the market.

Japan
Japan might bid for P 75I as India is keen on Japanese participation in the submarine building programme. Japan`s 4,200-tonne Soryu-class conventional attack submarines have garnered interest in India with Australia too in talks with Japan.

Spain
Spain`s Navantia is ready to offer its expertise in design and construction for India`s P 75I. It is also part of the Scorpene India Consortium along with France.

France
France is already a part of the P 75 project as it helps India build Scorpene boats in their shipyards. However, P 75I subs will be bigger than the 1800-tonnes Scorpene class being built.

Russia
Russia has said that it will be offering Rubin Amur 1650 class submarines to India. This boat is low-noise with a speed of 20 knots and is designed for both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
One of the two nuclear-powered submarines that India uses is the Russian leased Project 971 Nerpa that was re-christened INS Chakra. The Akula-II class submarine was leased in 2012 and will stay with the Indian Navy until 2022.
Reports from Interfax-AVN have suggested that Russia is ready to lease a second such nuclear-powered submarine for a period of 10 years. The submarine being reportedly offered will be K-322 Kashalot or another submarine from the Akula class (Akula is the NATO reporting name for the Shchuka).

INS Arihant
INS Arihant is the first of the five nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines that India is building under its secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. This indigenously built submarine, when operationalised, will build a credible nuclear triad for the country. 

Present Scenario 
At present, the Indian Navy has 13 conventional and one nuclear attack submarine as part of its underwater fleet. The conventional fleet relies primarily on the Russian Kilo class with nine of these submarines more than 20 years old and still in service. In addition, four German-origin HDW subs are available with the Navy that are currently being upgraded to fire the Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Six new French-origin Scorpene submarines are under construction in Mumbai. The first of the six Scorpene diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs) INS Kalvari, was floated out on 6 April, 2015 at the state-owned shipyard Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL). In addition, India is getting ready to deploy its Arihant class nuclear missile boat towards the end of this year. The Navy is also likely to lease a new nuclear attack submarine from Russia shortly.

Defence Reporter

Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali- The Unbeatable Gorkhas

They are fearless, fierce, loyal and brave. Their courage is their hallmark.  Their war cry - Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali – can curdle the blood of the enemy. Meet the Gorkhas. "Better to die than be a coward" is the motto of these remarkable soldiers who have made a distinguished contribution to the Indian Army. The Gorkhas have completed 200 years of soldiering in India under the British, and, later, the Indian flag.

To understand the glorious 200-year- old history of Gorkha Rifles, let us take you to a quiet cantonment town in the foothills of Himalayas. Subathu in Himachal Pradesh is home to the First Gorkha Rifles and houses the 14 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC).  It was on April 24, 1815 that the first organised body of Gorkha soldiers took to arms under the British East India Company at Subathu in Himachal Pradesh. The unit that was raised on that day still serves with the Indian Army and is today known as the First Battalion, The First Gorkha Rifles or 1/1 GR in short.

History:

200 years ago, Subathu witnessed the first encounter between the East India Company and soldiers from the Kingdom of Nepal during the Gorkha War of 1815. Impressed by the fighting qualities displayed by the Gorkahs of Nepal during this war, Sir David Ochterlony was quick to form the Gorkha Regiment. The British started a Gorkha (Nusseree) battalion in the Shimla hills. Before long, this battalion had made its mark in the battle for Bharatpur in 1826. In 1850, the battalion was named the 66th Gorkha Light Infantry and later renamed the First Gorkha Light Infantry. It became the First King George's Own Gorkha Rifles in 1910 (MALAUN REGIMENT). After independence, the designation changed to the present one. The regiment's other battalions were raised after 1959. The FIRST GORKHA RIFLES has a proud combat record and has always lived up to its reputation.

The Glory Continues

Be it war or counter terrorism operations, the soldiers of the Gorkha Rifles have proved themselves with their valour and self-sacrifice. The competition to become a part of this regiment is tough. The training to become a true soldier of the motherland is even fiercer. The recruits undergo forty five weeks of rigorous training. To a layman, they may look like supermen who can jump, climb, crawl to extraordinary lengths and breadths.  Their strength is not just physical. Mental  endurance is the key to sail through testing times. They are trained to succeed. Their passion to live and die for the nation is commendable. The successful recruits earn great honor for their family and village. And above all, they are the Nation’s Pride.

The Gorkha Rifles, which began as one unit then known as the 1st Nusseree Battalion, is today seven regiments strong. The Indian Army has the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th Gorkha Rifles as its regular infantry regiments apart from Gorkha troops serving in the Rashtriya Rifles, Artillery and the Territorial Army units.

MAN MADE ISLANDS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA WORRY INDIA

Chinese aggression in the South China Sea region has raised eyebrows in New Delhi. Recent satellite images released by Airbus Defence and Space show that China has made rapid progress in building an airstrip suitable for military use in the contested territory of Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Chinese moves have been greeted with concern not only in India but also in the United States.

The satellite images published in mid-March this year clearly show work in progress on the runway on reclaimed parts of Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly archipelago, which China contests with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

These images also indicate that reclamation work on Subu Reef in the Spratly archipelago is creating landmasses that, if joined together, could create space for another 3,000-meter (3,281-yard) long airstrip.

It is not just India, but also the United States, which is keeping a tab on these developments. The US military commander for Asia, Admiral Samuel Locklear said China, which claims most of the South China Sea, could eventually deploy radar and missile systems on outposts it is building, that could be used to enforce an exclusion zone should it move to declare one. 

China’s aggressive posture in the South China Sea is fuelling regional apprehensions. Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and even Australia and Japan are anxious. 

South China Sea region is a strategic waterway that is imperative for Delhi's Asia-Pacific outreach as well as energy investments. India is in the process of ramping up engagement across economic spheres in the ASEAN region, including oil blocks in Vietnam in the SCS region. Delhi is looking to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region following PM Narendra Modi's visit to three small but strategically significant Indian neighbors.

China’s recent activity in the South China Sea is not the only matter of concern for the Indian authorities. Its naval strength is more than that of India. China is well aware of the fact that the Indian Ocean has some of the busiest sea lanes globally. China’s 80 per cent business flow is through the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy has a strong hold on this part of the ocean. The developments in Spratly Islands are also seen as a pressure tactic by China.   

China has already hinted that the islands could be used to safeguard China’s national sovereignty in future and that there is nothing wrong with using military force to protect one’s national sovereignty when it is threatened by other nations. 

THE MIGHTY MARVEL: INDIAN NAVY’S MOST POWERFUL DESTROYER

The India Navy’s new stealth destroyer INS Vishakhapatnam is the lead ship of Project 15 B. The ship has been conceived as a follow up of the Kolkata class and is amongst the most technologically advanced guided missile destroyers of the world with state of the art weapon/sensor package. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design, the ship has been constructed by Mazagaon Dock Ltd., Mumbai.

The ship is one of the few warships in the world to have a Multi-Function Surveillance Threat Alert Radar to provide target data to Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile system. She is also equipped with 76mm and 30mm gun mounts for defence against incoming air-borne and surface threats at medium and close range.

Weighing 7,300 tonnes, INS Vishakhapatnam has room to accommodate 50 officers and 250 sailors. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fittings.

In consonance with the national vision of ‘Make in India’, INS Vishakhapatnam has significantly higher level of indigenization as compared to its predecessor. Some of the major equipments/systems developed indigenously and fitted onboard include :

• Indigenous rocket launcher for anti-submarine warfare
• Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launcher for  anti-submarine warfare
• Combat Management System
• Foldable Hangar Door
• Close in weapon system
• Boat Davits
• Integrated Power Management System
• Bow Mounted Sonar
• Early warning System

The ship can truly be classified as a Network of Networks as it is equipped with Ship Data Network (SDN), Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and Combat Management System (CMS).

The production of the first ship of the P15B class commenced on 23 January, 2013 and the keel was laid on 12 October, 2013. Production of the second ship has also commenced on 29 July, 2014.