Arihant class submarine


Artist's rendering of the Advanced Technology Vessel
Class overview
Name: Arihant (अरिहंत:)
Builders: Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Operators:  Indian Navy
Succeeded by: Arihant follow-on submarine
In commission: 2011- (est.)
Building: 5
Planned: 5[1]
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: 80MW PWR 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 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes - est. 30 charges (torpedoes, missiles or mines)[3]
SLBM - 4 launch tubes (each with 2.4 meter diameter)[4]
12 x K15 SLBM (3 in each launch tube) or
4 x K-4[5] SLBM (Under development)

The Arihant class submarines (Sanskrit: अरिहंत:, meaning "Slayer of Enemies") are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines[6] being developed for the Indian Navy. The INS Arihant was introduced to the public on July 26, 2009 at a symbolic launch ceremony, which consisted of floating it by flooding the dry dock.[7] The Arihant class is India's first indigenously designed and built nuclear submarine. The class is expected to consist of four vessels to be in commission with the Indian Navy by 2015, with a further four vessels planned to follow on.[8] The Arihant class vessels were designed as a part of India's US$2.9 billion project to design and build nuclear-powered submarines.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

Contents

History

The Arihant class submarines were designed and constructed as a part of the Indian Navy's Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Project. The first confirmation on the project came in 1998 from then defense minister of India, George Fernandes.[15] The ATV project started with the intent to design nuclear-powered fast attack submarines, though over time the project was re-aligned towards the design of a ballistic missile submarine[16] in order to complete India's nuclear triad.[17] The project faced many challenges including design and miniaturization of the nuclear reactor.[18]

Development

The vessels are to be powered by an 80 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) with enriched uranium fuel.[6] The initial design of the miniaturized naval-version of the reactor developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had technical challenges, after which Russian help was sought to resolve the design glitches. The final production version of the reactor was built by the BARC at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam.[19] A land-based prototype of the marine PWR was first built at Kalpakkam and made operational in September 2006. The prototype 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.[20] Successful operation of the prototype for three years yielded the data that enabled the production version for Arihant.[21][22] The reactors are fueled by high fissile fuel requiring lesser refuels for the submarine.[23]

The hulls for this class are built by L&T's Hazira shipbuilding facility. Tata Power SED built the control systems for the submarine. The systems for the steam turbine integrated with the PWR are supplied by Walchandnagar Industries.[24]

The program has been shrouded in mystery and reports on the current status of the vessel have differed. It was reported in 2009 by Defro.com that the nuclear reactor and other key systems including its surveillance equipment and ordnance were still in the process of being installed.[7][25][26][27][28] Other reports have stated that the reactor is on board the submarine.[29][30] India Today provided details of the nuclear reactor on-board. After the initial harbour trials are over, the steam turbines will be tested using a secondary power option. After successfully completing the turbine test, the nuclear reactor on-board the submarine will be activated. This is done by slowly raising the zirconium rods which will make the nuclear reactor critical. Once the reactor is critical, the sea trial of the submarine is carried out.[31] In 2010, the lead vessel of the class, INS Arihant was reported to have begun sea trials and the submarine is expected to formally join the Indian Navy by 2011.[32][33] systems were not included in the submarine's launch and that it was only a ceremonious float-out.[7] Although it has been reported that the new submarine already conducting sea trials,[34] Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said in December 2009, "Work is in progress to make INS Arihant operational for sea-trials...it should be inducted in two years or so."[35]

In these two years the submarine will undergo harbour acceptance trials(HATs) where the submarine's nuclear reactor will be 'fired' and all the on board systems will be tested on the power generated by the submarine, which will be followed by sea acceptance trials (SATs) where the submarine will be operated at different speeds and different depths, the final phase will be the weapon trials where the submarine will fire its SLBMs (Submarine launched ballistic missiles) and torpedoes.[36][37] Before working together all the systems installed in the submarine have to be tested one after the another (this process is called setting-to-work), the HATs and SATs are reported to last for one and a half year.[38]

Full integration of key systems and Sea trials are expected to be extensive. The submarine is not expected to formally join the Indian Navy earlier than 2011.[39] Admiral Verma stated in 2009 that The INS Arihant will be more of "a technology demonstrator", rather than a fully operational SSBN.[35] In 2011 he said that Arihant will undertake "deterrent patrols" in 2012 completing India's nuclear triad.[40] It is expected to be ready for operational deployment by the end of 2012.[41]

Two more submarines in the class are under construction and the hull sections of these has been completed at L&T facility in Hazira and is expected to be transported to Vishakapatanam for assembling.[42] INS Arihant is undergoing extensive sea trials before it's induction into service, and is said to be inducted prior to the induction of Akula class submarine.[43]

Details

The submarine is reported to be similar to the Russian Charlie II class submarine, which India leased from the Soviet Union between 1988 and 1991.[44] Personnel will have the opportunity to train on an Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine it will lease from Russia sometime in the second quarter of 2010.[44] It is conjectured that India may have struck deal for the supply of two of these submarines with an option to purchase them in the future.[39]

The Arihant class may possibly be armed with the existing 750 km K-15 Sagarika SLBM or the under-development 3500 km range K-4,[5][45] an SLBM version of Agni-III.

The Arihant class hull features twin flank-array sonars and Rafael broadband expendable anti-torpedo countermeasures. The UPA government's report card carried an image of INS Arihant, which provided the first glimpse of the complete sub.[46]

Ships in class

Name Pennant Builder Launch Sea Trials Commissioning Status
INS Arihant S73 Shipbuilding Centre Vishakapatnam 26 July 2009 2012 [47][48] 2012[49] Completed[47]
INS Aridaman[50] Shipbuilding Centre Vishakapatnam Under Construction
Unknown Shipbuilding Centre Vishakapatnam Under Construction
Unknown Shipbuilding Centre Vishakapatnam
Unknown Shipbuilding Centre Vishakapatnam

References

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  8. ^ Final test of K-15 ballistic missile on Tuesday
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  42. ^ PM's wife to launch INS Arihant, India's first nuclear submarine
  43. ^ Guarding our 7,600-km coastline is a challenge
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  45. ^ India Today The secret 'K' missile family
  46. ^ INS Arihant image
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  49. ^ SSBN Arihant to be commissioned in 2 years: Navy chief
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