MRITYUNJOY MAZUMDAR

The Indian Navy (IN) finds itself with ever growing responsibilities but shrinking assets and resources as it seeks to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) including the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It is dealing with the obsolescence of its ships. In addition, an emphasis on local ship construction has been hampered by long delays, due to labor problems, equipment supply problems from the erstwhile Soviet Union, and funding problems. Given current decommissioning levels, a recent IN analysis indicates that the government needs to place annual orders for six or seven large surface combatants of between 3,000 and 10,000 tons in order to maintain adequate force levels. The IN has embarked on an ambitious acquisition program to arrest steadily declining force levels since 1990. In fact, the recent Kargil conflict has been a catalyst in freeing up funds for the armed forces in general. For the Navy, which hitherto has been a low priority for the Indian Government, this meant that existing naval plans began receiving new urgency and long awaited projects began to get cleared at the governmental level.

Modernization programs on the other hand seem to be receiving low priority except for the aircraft carrier and the submarine force. Perhaps, this is because the Navy needs all of its available surface combatant assets until the new ships enter service, at which point the older platforms could be upgraded.

Since the last few months, many of the important pieces of what is planned to be one of Asia's most potent navies are being put in place. Among them is the construction of a new aircraft carrier, modification of the Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov with a ski-jump, and refitting the existing INS Viraat. Acquisition of new destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines, the induction of new missiles, and modernizing the naval air arm are also underway. The Indian Coast Guard functions as an adjunct to the Navy and its OPV and Dornier Do-228 aircraft programs are noteworthy.

The Kargil conflict confirmed the need for India to keep at least one carrier operational at all times. Since the IN's lone carrier, the INS Viraat, was in for an extended refit, the Sea Harriers of the Navy were to be operated from modified merchant ships if hostilities had broken out between India and Pakistan. This highlights the need for two carrier task forces to provide simultaneous control of the Arabian Sea (which is the IN's primary area of operations) and the Bay of Bengal. This also ensures that at least one carrier group will always be operational in an emergency. The Navy has gone from a two-carrier force to not having any operational carrier until well into the next year. The carrier program revolves around extensively modernizing the INS Viraat, acquiring the ex-Admiral Gorshkov from Russia, and perhaps more importantly, building a medium sized carrier locally.

Last April, this aging carrier went in for a major 18-24 month long extended refit at the Naval Dockyard at Mumbai. This refit, estimated at over $70 million, will enable her to serve until 2006 and possibly 2010. Major modifications and upgrades to the hangar include new firewalls, higher speed aircraft lifts, refits to machinery etc. C4I enhancements include new EW systems, installation of long-range surveillance radars, advanced computer packages for secure and enhanced communication systems.

The sale of the Admiral Gorshkov, a 44500-ton Russian cruiser-carrier, to the IN seemed to play itself out with the announcement in March 1999 that "in principle" New Delhi had accepted the Russian 'gift' of the Admiral Gorshkov. The cost of repairs and modifications are estimated at about $500 million. The total cost is estimated at about $2 billion, which includes the air wing, with the IN currently favoring the MiG-29K fighter over the Sukhoi Su-33. In October 1999, a high-powered delegation headed by Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, a naval aviator and head of the Admiral Gorshkov acquisition project, paid a visit to Russia. This visit focused on the "additions and alterations" to be incorporated into the Admiral Gorshkov with a view to extending the carrier's life by another 25 years.

This Russian "gift" is the result of intense and drawn out negotiations over many years and has the caveat that the carrier's air wing must be purchased from Russia. The Russians find themselves in the curiously difficult position of getting a very low scrap value should she be sold, while the IN has an obvious need for the ship. However, the Indians are also keen to obtain the best possible deal for themselves. Therefore, the saga of the Admiral Gorshkov continues though recent events like Kargil may speed up the process considerably. The final decision by the Indian Government is expected sometime this year, but is complicated by the issue of the locally built carrier (ADS) taking priority and also by opposition from the Indian Air Force.

The Admiral Gorshkov, a heavily armed cruiser-carrier hybrid, was commissioned in 1987. It lost its fixed-wing air group when the Yak-38 was retired in 1992. It suffered a serious fire in 1994 even after repairs, the ship has not deployed since and is in reserve at the Northern Machine Building Plant repair yard (Sevmash) at Severomorsk.

In addition to a major refit, modifications as proposed by the Nevskoye Design and Development Bureau (designers of the Moskva and Kiev class hybrid cruiser-carriers) include fitting a 14-degree ski jump in place of the existing missile systems on the bow. This would allow the ship to operate as a Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) carrier that is similar to the Admiral Kuznetsov of the Russian Navy. As initially proposed, the air wing would have 34 aircraft (21 MiG-29K fighters and 13 helicopters). The weapons modernization programs includes anti air, anti-submarine and electronic warfare systems packages. The close-in anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon suite will be increased with several KASTHAN gun/missile systems. The electronic warfare package would include a top-of-the-line, ECM resistant, communication package that includes ECCM (Electronic Counter-Counter Measures) capabilities and other state of the art data analysis equipment. The existing 200,000-shp power plant on eight high-pressure boilers and four geared turbines is to be retained. Surprisingly the maximum speed is now given at 28 knots as against the original 30+ knots although the conversion entails only relatively modest increase in displacement.

The Indian Navy opted for the MiG-29K fighters over the Sukhoi-33 aircraft. The latter were considered too large and heavy for operations from this carrier. The MiG-29K fighters would be supplemented by Kamov Ka-31 airborne early warning (AEW) helicopters, as well as Ka-28 helicopters for anti-submarine operations. In theory, these changes would also allow Sea Harrier fighters and Sea King helicopters from INS Viraat's air wing to operate from this vessel.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to purchase the Admiral Gorshkov was signed by the Indians last December. Russian reports indicate that pre-sale overhauling has started at Sevmash with the dismantling of Gorshkov's anti-ship cruise missiles. According to Nevskoye, a combat-ready aircraft carrier could be passed to a customer within three years from the time a contract is signed. Despite repeated statements by the Russians that the sale has been finalized, officials from the Indian Ministry of Defence have declined to confirm this. Regardless, a decision needs to be taken soon as the IN urgently needs to find a replacement for its decommissioned carrier, INS Vikrant. More significantly, it finds itself without a carrier for a prolonged period now that it's lone carrier, the INS Viraat, is in for an 18-24 month refit.

There has been a long-standing desire on the part of the Navy to build at least two carriers, but for various political and financial reasons, this did not come into fruition until the Kargil crisis as mentioned earlier. In June 1999, the Indian government finally cleared the long-delayed ADS project. It will replace INS Viraat, which is due for decommissioning in the next six to ten years.

To be built at a cost of Rs 2,000-crore ($700 million), construction of the ADS at Cochin Shipyard is likely to begin sometime in 2000, with a planned launch date around 2005-2006, though this appears to be slipping behind. It is planned to construct the ship in 10 years or less, using modular construction techniques to reduce build time. As major infrastructural modifications have to be undertaken at Cochin Shipyard before construction can begin, technical assistance from Mazagon Docks, Ltd. (MDL), Mumbai, and various foreign yards and contractors will be necessary. France has shown a keen interest in participating in the ADS construction. Strategic relations between India and France have brightened in the wake of tacit French support for India's nuclear test "Pokhran-II" in May 1998.

The ADS, is likely to include features from a number of carriers such as the French Charles de Gaulle, the Italian Garibaldi, INS Viraat and the Russian Kuznestov. It's genesis lies in a scaled down 1989 design study by DCN of France for a 25000-tonne carrier similar to the Charles de Gaulle. This design study was to be modified into a production model by Indian Naval Design Organization, with construction to start in Cochin by 1993. For financial reasons, this was shelved, and efforts shifted to the Italian Garibaldi class. This was further changed to a Naval Design Organization proposal for a 17,000-tonne light carrier in 1997.

After the ADS project was cleared by the Govt. in June 1999, there has been some confusion as to the ships' displacement. It has been variously reported as 24,000 tons to 32000 tons. However, recent statements by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar, seem to indicate that it is to be a 250-metre long, ski-jump, flight deck equipped ship with a displacement of 32,000 tons, a speed of 32 knots and a crew of 1350 personnel. Originally thought to have been designed with the naval variant of the much delayed Light Combat Aircraft in mind, the vessel has been somewhat modified to operate MiG-29Ks. "The ADS has been redesigned by the Navy to accommodate the naval variant of the Russian-made MiG-29 fighter along with the naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)," Admiral Kumar said. He indicated that the Navy might need to purchase Russian aircraft for the ADS, in case the naval version of the LCA did not fly by the time the ADS is to be commissioned. It is expected that 30-40 aircraft and helicopters will be embarked. However, the reader must bear in mind that details are still speculative at this stage, and it may very well be that a CTOL option is chosen for the ADS.

Once the Air Defence Ship project is successfully underway, it would further enhance the status of the country as a regional superpower. There are long term plans for building a second ADS after the first one commissions sometime around 2010. The aging INS Viraat will be decommissioned around this time.

This class of three, large, general-purpose destroyers, with a hybrid mix of Russian, Western and Western-derived Indian technology, are the largest warships to be built in India. Constructed at Mazagon Dockyards, Bombay, their design is based on the modified Kashin but also draws heavily upon features from a number of other ships such as the Godavari and Sovremenny. Russia's Severnoye Design Bureau assisted the Navy's Directorate of Naval Design with the design and integration of the various Russian systems. It is said by some, to be what the Russians would have really preferred their Sovremenny (which suffer from top weight problems) to be like. These vessels were originally designed with the intent of fitting the supersonic 3M-80 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn). However, this didn't materialize and 3M-60 Uran (SS-N-25 Switchblade) are now fitted. It is possible that the 3M-54 Club (SS-N-27) will be fitted as they become available to the IN in due course. The construction of this class has taken almost a decade to complete primarily because of protracted equipment supply delays from suppliers in the former USSR. Currently two of three units are in service, with the INS Delhi entering service in November 1997 and the INS Mysore in June 1999. The third of class, the Bombay, is expected to be added later this year.

This handsome ship, displacing 6900 tons tons full load, is powered by four Ukrainian Zorya Gas Turbines producing 64,000 hp for a maximum speed of over 32 knots. They are capable of operations in a NBC environment. Armed with a heavy missile complement of sixteen 3M-60 Urans, in four quadruple KT-184 launchers, twin SA-N-17 launchers giving it a fairly useful area air defense capability. Gun armament comprises a single 100mm AK-100 gun, and four 30mm AK-630 guns as a CIWS. The 3M-60s, armed with a 145 kg warhead, have a range of 130 km at 0.9 Mach and becomes a sea-skimmer at the end of it's run. The SA-N-17 is thought to have a range of 50 km.

Anti-submarine weapons include PTA 533 quintuple 533mm torpedo tubes, and twin RBU-6000 12 tube rocket launchers with a range of 6000 meters. Two Sea King Mk.42B ASW/ASh helicopters are carried. Armed with Sea Eagle AShMs these provide a long-range surface strike capability out to 400 km.

Fitted with an array of Indian-built and Russian radars, most notably the MR-775M2‚ Top Plate which supplies tracking data for the SA-N-17, a Bharat/Signaal RAWL /P318Z (LW08), D-band Air/Surface radar. For fire control purposes, one Garpun-Bal (NATO: Plank Shave) for the 3M-60 Uran SSM, six MR-90 (NATO: Front Dome, F-band) for SA-N-17, one MR-145 (NATO: Kite Screech, H/I/K-band) for 100mm gun and two MR-123 (NATO: Bass Tilt, H/I/J-band) for 30mm guns. This raises the question of possible EM interference during radar operations.

It's Indian-built sonar suite comprises the hull-mounted Bharat APSOH, and variable depth sonar called the HUMVAAD. EW capabilities include a Bharat Ajanta EW suite, which is a derivative of an Italian system, and two Russian PK-2 decoy launchers. The combat data system is the Italian derived Bharat Shikari and all the ships have full flag facilities.

Some official statements speak of a fourth vessel to follow in 2001-02 which may very well be the first of three of an improved follow on P15A class. In May 2000, the government approved an additional three units of the designated P15A 'Bangalore' Class. Construction is expected to begin at MDL in two years. The P15A ships will possess enhanced stealth features and land-attack capabilities in the form of Russian-built Novator 3M-54E1 vertically launched cruise missiles.

This is to be the Indian Navy's standard large combatant in the 21st century and a class of 12 units have been proposed. Cabinet approval was given in 1997, a Letter of Intent given by Navy to MDL in Feb 1998. An order for three units was placed by the Indian Navy to Mazagon Docks in early 1999, with plate cutting to start by the end of 1999 and hull fabrication to begin by early 2000, but this appears to be slipping behind. The project is still a year away from plate cutting and the keel of the first vessel is expected to be laid down in 2001-02, with delivery sometime around 2007 and subsequent deliveries at 1.5 year intervals.

As very few factual details are available, it is difficult to say with certainty what they will be. These multi-purpose ships with area defense capabilities are estimated to have a standard displacement of 4600 tons and a 5000+ tons full load. It's armament suite will be vastly superior to the Delhi class destroyers. It is understood that the design will incorporate far more stealth features than has previously been the case with Indian warship designs and reportedly, it is expected to be similar to the European Horizon Class next generation frigates. HAL-built GE LM 2500 gas turbines may be fitted. Some reports indicate that up to three Naval ALH helicopters will be embarked, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Ordered as a one-time "stop gap measure" from Russia to replace the dwindling force of Leander Class frigates, this program for three "destroyers" so called on the basis of it's SA-N-17 area defense SAMs, appears to be on schedule. The three ships of the class have been named Talwar, Trishul and Toofan. The Talwar is to join the fleet next year. The keel of the second ship, the Trishul, was laid down at St. Petersburg in late October 1999 with a commissioning date in 2002, while the last one will commission sometime in 2003/2004.

Based on the excellent Krivak frigate, this is a much modified, export-oriented design by Russia's Severnoye Design Bureau. Of about 4000 tons, it has a wholly redesigned superstructure to incorporate stealth features and light-alloy structures have been replaced with steel ones. Details of armament fits are very sketchy at the time. Russian proposals call for a heavy armament suite of at least eight Club-N (3M-54) vertical-launch strike missile system, Shtil-1 (SA-N-17) medium-range anti-aircraft missile system, Kashtan gun/missile CIWS, a single A-190 100mm gun mount, DTA-53 torpedo launchers, RBU-6000 rocket launchers, and a helicopter. All this on a 4000-ton hull seems like a lot.

Indian press reports mention that the ship will be considerably modified to suit Indian requirements with a large number of non-Russian equipment and weapons systems. An OTO 76mm gun will be fitted, and for a time, that a naval variant of the Prithvi SSM would be carried on these ships. Recent press releases by the Navy say that the Club missile system will be fitted on these ships, so that may very well be the case. Again, it remains to be seen what the actual armament and electronic suite will be. At one time, the Russians had offered six ships for the price of three, but political indecision on the part of the Indian Government led to the Russians rescinding the offer.

Three modified variants of the 3850-ton Project 16 Godavari Class are in various stages of sea trials, fitting out and completion at the GRSE yards in Calcutta. Their construction was severely delayed by labor unrest at GRSE, equipment supply problems, and funding problems. Their basic design is rather old, but once again, they feature a unique mix of Indian, Russian and Western weapons and equipment. They will carry a powerful missile armament of 16 3M-60 Urans, a OTO 76mm gun, 30mm CIWS, two helicopters, and the locally-developed Trishul short-range SAM. However, severe integration problems with the Trishul on the INS Brahmaputra, meant that she was commissioned this April without an operational SAM fit. What is certain is that a SAM would have to be selected very soon for these ships, and if the Trishul is not successful, then either Russian SAMs or the Israeli Barak may be the most likely contenders. INS Betwa, the second of the class launched in February 1998, is in an advanced state of fitting out and should commissioned in 2001/2002 while the INS Beas will follow in 2002/2003.

Nearly a decade after they were first ordered from Garden Reach Shipyard (GRSE), Calcutta, the Indian Navy's Project 25A corvettes have begun emerging from the shadows of shipyard delays and equipment supply problems. Built as a follow on to the earlier series of four Project 25 Khukri class, the first 25A corvette, the Kora (P61) was commissioned in 10 August 1998, eight years after her keel was laid down. Three other ships, the Kirch, Kulish and Karmukh have been launched and are in various stages of sea trials and fitting out. In fact severe delays, including labor unrest at the GRSE in Calcutta compelled the Navy to tow out the second 25A ship, INS Kirch to MDL in 1995 to complete her fitting out. The sea-trials for the Kirch and Kulish started in mid-1999 and Kirch is to be commissioned later this year with the last one to be inducted into the Navy by 2003. Program costs are approximately $200 million.

Project 25 was originally conceived in the 1980's as a class of 12 units, being divided into 3 subclasses of anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare platforms. These were to replace the 11 Petya-II Class corvettes transferred from the former Soviet Union between 1969 and 1974. However, with budgetary constraints and extensive delays in construction and weapons supplies, the number has been revised downwards as the unit cost of these warships escalated.

The 1400-tonne, 91 meter corvettes of Project 25A are to a design prepared by the Indian Navy, with assistance from the Severnoye design bureau. Broadly similar to the earlier Project 25 Class ships, what immediately distinguishes the Kora Class from its predecessors, the P-20 Styx SSM-armed Khukri Class, is its large missile load of 16 3M-60s in four quadruple KT-184 launchers and the removal of the missile blast deflectors intended for the heavier P-20 SSM. This necessitated some 40 minor structural changes in the original design of the Khukri Class.

The large missile load of 16 3M-60s represent quadruple the missile load of the Khukri Class and gives the Kora Class, a firepower capability comparable to the Delhi Class destroyers. These ships can be used for massed attacks on targets or independently in scenarios too risky to involve sending prized assets like the Delhi Class destroyers. The destroyers would then be free to concentrate on roles that are more vital or as flotilla leaders for smaller missile boats. As in the Khukri Class, other armament consists of a single 76mm AK-176 gun, two AK-630 30mm Close in Weapon Systems. Countermeasures systems include PK-16 launchers as in the Khukri Class and two BEL supplied towed decoys.

One of the most glaring aspects of the corvette has been the near-lack of any significant air-defense (AD) or anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems and a lack of stealth features. Presently, INS Kora only carries two manually-aimed twin launchers for the SA-N-5 Igla short-range anti-aircraft missile. Likewise there are no integral ASW assets and the ship will rely on helicopters such as the Chetak or ALH fitted with dunking sonar and torpedoes to fulfill its ASW functions. These omissions are explained in part by the fact that these ships are cheap platforms that are supposed to operate with other ASW escorts under friendly air cover. Nevertheless, it is very debatable whether this is a sound operational philosophy on the IN's part especially as comparable units in service with other navies have significant AD and ASW assets. However, given the existing threats and their expected roles, this may not really be a significant factor for this class of ships.

The sensor suite is largely of Russian origin along with some Indian made sensors/systems. Fire control for the 3M-60 is integrated into the Russian designed Garpun-Bal surface-search multi-functional radar, which also functions in the ESM role. It is possible that this radar is being manufactured in India. Other sensors of Russian origin include a MR-352 Pozitiv-E (NATO: Cross Dome) air search radar, a MR-123 Vympel (NATO: Bass Tilt) FC radar for the AK-176 gun and the two AK-630 30mm CIWS. It is thought that the Russian sensors and FC systems are integrated into the Bharat Vympal Combat Data System, which is a version of the Italian Selenia IPN 10 system As in the Khukri Class, there is no onboard sonar apart from an echo sounder.

Although equipped with comprehensive helicopter landing systems supplied by SOFMA of France, it lacks a hanger on the large helicopter deck located amidships. At present, only the HAL Chetak (license built SA 319B Alouette III) is embarked but the ship is capable of handling the much larger indigenous HAL Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The Kora Class is also 50-tons heavier than the Khukri Class, partly because of enhanced air-conditioning / heat exchanger systems. It has an indigenous component of 70%. Powered by two Indian assembled SEMT-Pielstick diesels which deliver 14,400 hp to two controllable pitch propellers, the ship has a top speed of over 28 knots and a range of 4000n miles at 14 knots.

With the Navy deciding to spend its meager budget on acquiring more general purpose platforms such as the indigenous Project 17 FFG, a follow series of 4 more Project 25A to bring the projected total to 12 appears unlikely. It appears that the INS Karmukh will be the last of the 25A's to enter the Navy.

An order for four modified Tarantuls seems to have been drawn down to two units - one at GSL and one at MDL. Both are to be launched sometime this year for a commissioning in around August 2001. These are to be armed with 16 3M-60s, in place of the four P20/21/22 Styx and an OTO 76mm gun (which is license produced in India) in place of the Russian 76mm AK-176 gun. It has been reported that the ship will have an additional deck. It is possible that at a later date, as funds become available, the 12 existing Tarantuls may have their Styx replaced by Urans.

The second unit of a 4-class Seaward Defense Boat Mk 3, an FAC was commissioned last year. These 46 metre, 260 ton craft are capable of over 25 knots. They are intended for patrolling coastal waters, policing, anti-smuggling and fisheries protection in the Indian EEZ. Three other fast attack craft (FAC) built at GRSE may commission later this year.

Super Dvora Mk.II Class Fast Attack Craft

The first two of four were ordered from the Israeli company Ramta and two more are being built in the Goa Shipyard. This is the latest version of the Israeli fast patrol craft, and additional 15 are projected, some possibly for the Coast Guard. The first two units, T 80 and T81 of this extra FAC (XFAC), as the Indians call it, entered service in June 1998 and June 1999 respectively. The other two Goa built units will commission later this year and in 2001. Displacement: 60 tons full load, they have a maximum speed of 50 knots. Armament includes one Oerlikon 20mm gun and two 12.7mm MGs. Sensors are primarily of Israeli origin. Designed for coastal surveillance and recon operations, the XFAC can also be used for inducting and de-inducting special forces units, as it can be selectively beach head. This is made possible because of the surface drive propellers.

CGS Sarang, the third of its class of Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) to be designed by Goa SY Limited was inducted into the Indian Coast Guard on 22 June 1999. CGS Sarang's keel was laid down on 19 March 1993 and was launched on 8 March 1997. These 2000 ton vessels, armed with one OTO Melara super rapid 76mm gun and two machine guns, can embark a Sea King sized helicopter. These ships are primarily designed for typical coast guard tasks, such as policing of India's exclusive economic zone, search & rescue, preservation & protection of the marine environment. Even so, they are more than capable of undertaking combat missions and serve as a very useful adjunct to the warships of the Navy. The original plan for six units of this class may have been changed. It is possible that the fourth and subsequent units will be to a larger design.

Construction of the third unit of the Magar class LST, with major design changes, continues very slowly at GRSE. An original order for eight units seems to have been reduced to five, though this is uncertain given that funding priorities have shifted elsewhere. Talks with the Polish over modernizing the Polnochny LS continue though nothing concrete has been announced yet. Other reports indicate the possibility of producing a modified Polnochny design in India though this has not been confirmed.

MURENA Air Cushion Landing Craft

India has planned to purchase a batch of six MURENA (Project 1206.1) air cushion landing craft. These will be used by the Navy's quick reaction units. The craft are expected to arrive from 2001 onwards in batches of two. The western and eastern naval commands will share the craft. It is possible that future batches of Murena will be built in India as sourcing technology is part of the negotiations with Russia.

The 14-year-old Aditya, a 25000-ton replenishment ship, has finally commissioned this year. Built to a modified Bremer Vulkan design by GRSE the delay, as usual, was the result of funding shortages and labor problems at the shipyard. Replacing the now decommissioned Deepak, it will be a welcome addition to the Fleet. Plans for a second unit of this class are uncertain for now.

INS Sarveskhak, the last of eight, 2000 ton Sandhayak Class survey ships is expected to commission at Goa SY later this year. All except the last two were built at GRSE. A large multi role troop ship converted from a merchant ship was launched at Hindustan SY at Vishakapatnam in April 1998. It is expected that this unit will be similar to the 19,000-ton, Polish-built, INS Andamans, that is used as a troopship.

According to a recent 30-year procurement plan, the IN would like to operate 24 submarines, which is about the maximum that can be supported in terms of berthing facilities, etc. However, funding is always the limiting factor. Current programs include two new-build Kilos, progressively modernizing the other eight Kilos, modernizing the 4 Type 1500 SSK, building the locally designed Project 75 SSK, and of course, the much talked about nuclear SSN or the ATV.

INS Sindhushastra, the second of two 877EKM Kilo class submarines ordered in 1997 from the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, Russia was launched in October 1999 with delivery scheduled for later this year. Although it has been reported as an 877EKM, it may in fact be a 636. Very significantly, it is armed with a sub-launched version of the Russian Novator 3M-54E1 Club ASCM. This is a response to the Pakistani purchase of the sophisticated Exocet equipped Agosta-90B submarines from France.

All of the eight older Kilo Class are being progressively modified to fire the Club missile from their 533mm torpedo tubes along with modernized sonar and electronic warfare systems. INS Sindhuvir, the first of the retrofitted Kilo has rejoined the fleet late last year after a two-year medium refit in Russia.

India is the first customer for the 3M-54E1 Club (SS-N-27) ASCM which uses a turbo-jet engine combines positive aspects of the Harpoon and the Moskit. This configuration offers lower speed, but better fuel economy than the Moskit. Once launched from ship, submarine, or aircraft, the 1.5 ton missile cruises at subsonic speed 15 feet above the sea. At around 60 km to its approach to the target, the forward section of the missile separates and ignites a solid booster that rockets the missile to supersonic speed of Mach 2.5.

There have been reports about the possible acquisition of the Amur Class submarine, which is a development of the Kilo. It is much smaller, but is fitted with AIP systems. Until there is official confirmation from the Indian MOD, it is mere speculation.

Project 75

In line with bolstering indigenous submarine building capabilities, Project 75 envisions a class of 12 SSK. Construction for two Project 75 submarines to be built at the MDL has been approved but the status is uncertain. It is not at all clear whether the sub will be based on the Kilo or the Type 1500 or some other type. Senior Naval Officials said the subs would be indigenously "re-designed" versions of the four HDW Type 1500 diesel-electric submarines with a tube-launched missile capability. This may imply that the "re-design" incorporates features from the Kilo and other subs. Lately, there's been talk of India seeking French help in its indigenous "Project 75" submarine project. If this true, it implies that the design will certainly have features of the French Scorpene Class. What is certain is that an AIP option is necessary given Pakistan's acquisition of AIP-equipped Agosta 90B subs. A firm decision from the government on it is expected anytime now, but they have been saying that for the past five years. Both subs are to be delivered seven years from the order date.

Until the May '98 nuclear blasts at Pokhran, it was fairly certain that construction of 2 more modified T1500 subs was going resume at Mazagon Docks. But the plan had to be cancelled following German sanctions against India. At the present time, the first of this class, the INS Shishumar is currently undergoing a mid-life refit at Mazagon Docks and the rest will follow by 2005. It is not clear whether a missile firing capability and AIP systems will be retrofitted in these submarines. Thomson-CSF Eldone TSM 2272 sonars on order from France may replace the original Atlas Elektronic CSU-83 sonars.

Nuclear Submarine or the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)

About the only thing that are certain about the much-speculated ATV or nuclear powered sub program is that it actually exists and that Russian technical involvement is very considerable. As to what characteristics it will have, speculations, and reports have ranged from the ATV being a Russian Charlie (Project 670) based design to a Severodvinsk based design of 6000 tons with a VL missile launch capability. The program has suffered from cost overruns and numerous technical difficulties especially the power plant. A class of five is planned, and speculative launch dates are sometime in 2007, which means that this project is far away from fruition now.

To extend the reach of the "kill" capability of the Indian Navy over the entire Indian Ocean region, it has homed in on three variants of a new generation 300 km range supersonic Russian cruise missile. These variants of the Club ASCM, thus, called for its ability to be launched from multiple platforms - they are to equip IN's submarines, long-range maritime patrol aircraft and new destroyers.

Significantly, the Indian Navy will be the first customer of a universal missile, the export version of that is called the Club. This second generation supersonic missile, dubbed the SS-N-27 by NATO, has not even entered Russian military service. Indian defense teams first evaluated the Raduga 3M-80 Moskit supersonic cruise missile. Later they examined its successor, the 3K55 Yakhont (SS-N-26), which again fell through, before zeroing in on the Alfa cruise missile being developed by the Novator design bureau. In the interim, the Navy purchased the 3M-60 (SS-N-25) ASMs and is standardizing this missile on all its indigenous destroyers, frigates, and missile boats.

A number of other Indian naval missile programs, with Russian technical collaboration, are thought to exist though it is difficult to verify some of these. The government recently confirmed that DRDO is developing Sagarika (Oceanic), a 300 km range cruise missile intended to be launched from both submarines and surface vessels. Sagarika is likely to be deployed aboard the nuclear-powered submarine (ATV) being developed by the DRDO. It may be that Sagarika is the Indian name for the 3M-54 Club missile, which also has a stated range of 300 km!

A naval variant of the Prithvi SSM, reported as the Dhanush exists. This was test-fired on 11 April 1999 from a modified OPV. The test reportedly did not meet the desired level of performance and more tests are expected. Not much is clear about the Koral, that may be the Indian name for a Russian missile or an all-new design or merely the creation of a misinformation project!

Surface-to-Air Missiles

Although numerous trials have been carried out, the Trishul short-range surface-to-air missile program has been setback. It is still undergoing user trials and coupled with integration problems, does not look like it will enter service this year. Trishul is based on the SA-N-4 with a guidance system similar to the British Sea Wolf. Work is reported to have started on a VL variant of the Trishul.

Long range plans exist for a navalized variant of the area defense Akash anti-air missile. Work continues on the indigenous Akash SAM, with a 60-km range and ABM capabilities. Akash uses a phased-array radar for tracking and guidance, but the program has been beset with difficulties although Israeli technical collaboration means that key technologies from the Israeli-US Arrow ABM program may be transferred. If the Akash program is successful, it is likely that it will become the standard long range SAM in the IN.

Naval Aviation

Plans call for upgrades and new acquisitions. A $1.2 billion procurement program for the air arm of the Indian Navy has been proposed with vendor's selection process currently on.

Upgrading India's 20 BAe Sea Harrier FRS.51 V/STOL fighters with Israeli Elta radars and other avionics seems uncertain for now, though modifications such as twin rail launchers for the Matra Magic-II AAM, belly mounted fuel packs have been carried out. Emphasis is now on acquiring one or more squadrons of carrier-based MiG-29K fighters and KA-31 AEW helicopters. In fact, about 30 MiG-29K have been ordered.

In IAF service, all aircraft are capable of operating with Russian/Western weapons. While one cannot confirm, this is likely to be true of naval aircraft. In fact both the Tu-142M Bear-F and the Il-38 May have been successfully equipped with the BAe Sea Eagle. The Dornier Do-228 MR aircraft is being fitted with Super Marec radar which is an Indian development with HAL developed software. These aircraft are also in the process of being fitted with ASM, thought to be 3M-60s and BAe Sea Eagles.

All of the MPA are being upgraded the Sea Dragon ASW suite in Russia. All five IL-38 May have been upgraded and now the Tu-142M Bear-F are undergoing similar retrofits. Between six and eight Tu-142M Bear-F long-range maritime surveillance and ASW aircraft have been ordered from Russia for $200 million. This fulfills a long-standing requirement for more aircraft of this type. Whether the airframe will be of the MKE or MZ version remains to be seen. It may be surmised that these maritime patrol & strike aircraft will be armed with air-launched versions of the new Russian cruise missile. These will lend teeth to the Bears that already have a phenomenal patrol radius of over 12,000 km. Even more significant, is the acquisition of Tu-22MR Backfire supersonic bombers. Up to a dozen or more may ultimately be acquired.

An Information Warfare squadron with six Do-228 aircraft was formed two years ago and is tasked with ELINT and SIGINT operations. The CG recently ordered six Do-228 to be used in the MR role. These would supplement naval aircraft in times of conflict.

Although it is yet to be confirmed, recent news reports indicate that the IN is keen on obtaining TU22MR/M3 Backfires, which is a long range, supersonic, maritime recon/strike aircraft. Regardless of whatever MR/AShM roles they are tasked with, one can say with some degree of certainty, that by acquiring them, the IN is staking a claim to it's share of the nuclear pie.

The IN is working towards a major qualitative improvement in its war fighting capability given its constraints. In other words, it has to come to terms with doing more with less and doing a good job of it. At the same time, a major drive for indigenization is underway. Locally developed technology such as Ajanta EW suite is being standardized in the fleet new sonar developments continue. Extensive use of Information Systems and improvements in C4I continue to be emphasized. Thus, the new millennium will see the Indian Navy a leaner, but meaner, fighting force.