The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Karambir Singh says submarines are the most potent instruments in any conflict and can be employed for several missions.
According to him, submarines can be deployed at extended ranges and their ability to fire weapons from a stand-off range without getting detected makes them a vital component of a blue water navy. Probably this vision of the navy has got the sanction of Project 75 I, Project 75 and ATV (Advanced Technology Vessel).
The sub-surface nuclear ballistic (SSBN) Arihant-class nuclear submarines being built under the Advanced Technology Vessel project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, will give India the cutting edge deterrence, said Commodore Uday Bhaskar, Defence Analyst. Arihant is capable of launching nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles from its vertical launch tubes and is undergoing extensive sea and weapons trial, the second in line INS Aridhaman is learnt to be nearing its launch time.
The nuclear subs unlike the conventional diesel ones can operate sub-surface for months without surfacing and can dive deep to about 500 mts to avoid detection.
Under Project 75, six Scorpene-class submarines in collaboration with French firm DCNS is being built at Mazagon. Christened as Kalvari-class these silent killers can carry 18 torpedoes and travel 1,020km underwater. The 66-metre submarine can dive up to a depth of 300 metres.
Project 75I-class is an extended version of Project 75 Kalvari-class submarine and under this project it is learnt that at least three subs with advanced feature of Air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems is being planned. This feature will give them the capability of longer sub-surface duration and enhanced operation range.
