Kalvari at sea
Class overview
NameKalvari class
BuildersMazagon Dock Limited
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded by
Succeeded byProject 75I-class submarine
Cost
  • ₹23,652 crore (equivalent to ₹340 billion or US$4.3 billion in 2023) for six units
  • ₹3,942 crore (equivalent to ₹57 billion or US$710 million in 2023) per unit (FY 2016)
In commission2017 – present
Planned9[1][2]
On order3
Completed6
Active5
General characteristics
TypeAttack submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 1,615 tonnes (1,589 long tons)
  • Submerged: 1,775 tonnes (1,747 long tons)
Length67.5 m (221 ft 5 in)[4]
Beam6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)[3]
Height12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)[4]
Draught5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)[3]
Propulsion
  • 4 x MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines[3]
  • 360 x battery cells
  • DRDO PAFC Fuel Cell AIP (Expected to be added in Fleet I submarines from 2023 onwards)
Speed
  • Surfaced: 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
  • Submerged: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range
  • 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 550 nmi (1,020 km; 630 mi) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) (submerged)[5]
Endurance50 days[6]
Test depth350 metres (1,150 ft)[7]
Complement
  • 8 officers
  • 35 sailors
Electronic warfare
& decoys		C303/S anti-torpedo countermeasure system[8]
Armament

The Kalvari-class submarines, formally classified as the Project-75 submarines (P-75), is a class of diesel-electric attack submarines operated by the Indian Navy (IN).[9] Currently being constructed by a syndicate of French and Indian shipyards, namely, Naval Group and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) respectively, the class is an export derivative of the French-origin Scorpène-class submarine, originally designed by Naval Group.[10]

A namesake of the former-Foxtrot-class submarines that the IN operated between 1967 and 2010, the class was originally planned in the late-1990s as an initial phase of a 30-year long naval rearmament roadmap to replace the IN's conventional submarine fleet, namely the Sindhughosh-class and Shishumar-class submarines.[11] [12] India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) ordered an introductory batch of six submarines in 2005, at an initially-estimated cost of ₹13,000 crore (equivalent to ₹440 billion or US$5.5 billion in 2023); of the ordered six, five are currently in operational service.[13] In addition to the first batch, a proposal for the purchase of three more submarines was approved in 2023, at an estimated cost of ₹36,000 crore (US$4.5 billion).[14]

First introduced to operational service in 2017, the submarines are currently operated by the IN for a variety of missions, namely, littoral surveillance, intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and minelaying operations.[9]

History

Origins

In 1997, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) - the highest-decision making body of India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), approved a proposal for the purchase of two Type 209/1500 attack submarines (SSK) for the Indian Navy (IN), at a then-estimated cost of INR ₹700 crore.[15] The two examples of the design , originally conceived by the German-based Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, were proposed to be built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), located in Mumbai, with the assistance of a foreign naval firm in a corroborative role.[15]

In accordance with the scheme, the IN and MDL approached several naval enterprises for assistance; however, the French-based Thomson-CSF (TCSF) was the only firm willing to participate.[15] Two years later, in 1999, the MoD approved a two-phase plan to build 24 submarines over a 30-year period.[15] For the first phase, which called for the construction of SSKs at MDL, two options were proposed: the former option recommending the construction of the Type 209/1500 at MDL with the assistance of TCSF; the latter option recommending the construction of SSKs based on the newer Scorpène submarine design, conceived by the French-based Armaris (later DCNS, now Naval Group).[15] Ultimately, the IN chose the latter, reasoning that the Scorpène, which had been offered with a provision of technology transfer (TOT), was more advanced than the Type 209/1500.[15] Another reason for choosing the Scorpène design was because of the IN’s interest in acquiring submarine-launched missiles.[15] At the time, the French-designed Exocet, the US-designed Harpoon and the Russian-designed Kalibr were the only such missiles that were commercially obtainable; however, the Harpoon was unavailable to the IN and the Kalibr was incompatible with the Type 209/1500's torpedo tubes.[15] This led to the Exocet being preferred and subsequently, the Scorpène design.[15]

On 6 October 2005, India signed a series of contracts for transfer of technology to construct six submarines in Mazagon Dock Limited with Armaris, supply of equipment and services with the Government of France and supply of SM39 Exocet missiles with MBDA. DCN International was designated as the prime contractor in partnership with Navantia. Armaris was responsible for supply of combat systems and technical advisors for construction of submarines at MDL. The entire programme was valued at €2.4 billion.[16] The deal included a 30% offset clause and the submarines were to be delivered over five years starting from 2012.[16][17] The Scorpène design won the deal because of the capability to fire Exocet anti-ship missiles and an agreement on the air-independent propulsion.[18] India cancelled plans to incorporate DRDO-developed air-independent propulsion system onto the last two submarines being built due to a delay in its development.[19] A plan to buy three more submarines under the options clause was cancelled in September 2016.[20]

Steel cutting for the first submarine began on 14 December 2006 and hull construction was started on 23 May 2007.[4][21] As of August 2014, the project was running four years behind schedule.[22] The delay has been attributed to slow finalisation of contracts for procurement of sensors and propulsion system components by Mazagon Dock Limited and DCNS.[23] The first submarine, INS Kalvari (Malayalam: tiger shark), was launched on 28 October 2015 and commenced sea trials on 1 May 2016.[4]

In June 2016, a plan to arm Kalvari-class submarines with 98 Black Shark torpedoes from WASS was cancelled in response to corruption allegations against WASS's sister company, AgustaWestland.[24][25] The defense minister Manohar Parikkar under the NDA government, said that the torpedoes for the submarine will be procured from other companies.[26] SeaHake torpedoes from Germany's Atlas Elektronik and France's F21 torpedoes may be considered.[27] Indigenous torpedoes Varunastra under development by DRDO may also be used as replacements.[28] The submarines have been configured to fire Surface and Underwater Target (SUT) torpedoes for the time being.[29] Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of the DRDO is developing an indigenous air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems which will be installed during the first refit programme from 2023.[30]

Vagsheer, the last of the six submarine started its maiden sea trials on 19 May 2023. The boat is expected to be commissioned in the early 2024.[31][32]

Ministry of Defence, Defence Procurement Board (DPB) green lighted the acquisition of 3 additional boats on 10 July 2023. Following this, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the proposal on 13 July 2023. The deal was expected to be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France on Bastille Day, 14 July 2023. However, no such deal was signed and the deal is now expected to be signed by end of 2024 with the deliveries beginning by 2031.[33][34][1][35]

Mazagon Dock submitted a bid of over ₹20,000 crore (US$2.5 billion) for 3 submarines on 11 December 2023. These submarine will feature higher indigenous content and DRDO AIP for enhanced underwater endurance.[36][37]

Design and description

The Kalvari class is capable of offensive operations across the entire spectrum of naval warfare including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.[38] It has a length of 67.5 m (221 ft 5 in), height of 12.3 m (40 ft 4 in), overall beam of 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in) and a draught of 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in). It can reach a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) when submerged and a maximum speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) when surfaced. The submarine has a range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) when surfaced.[3] Each ship is powered by four MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines, has 360 battery cells (750 kg, 1,650 lb each), for power and has a silent Permanently Magnetised Propulsion Motor. The hull, fin and hydroplanes are designed for minimum underwater resistance and all equipment inside the pressure hull is mounted on shock absorbing cradles for enhanced stealth.[4] Special steel was used in its construction which has high tensile strength, capable of withstanding high yield stress and hydro-static force. Each submarine has 60 km (37 mi) of cabling and 11 km (6.8 mi) of piping.[38] The class displaces 1,615 tonnes (1,589 long tons) when surfaced and 1,775 t (1,747 long tons) when submerged.[29]

This class is equipped with six 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes for a combination of 18 heavyweight wire-guided German-made Surface and Underwater Target (SUT) torpedoes and SM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles or 30 mines in place of both.[39][40] The class is also fitted with mobile C303/S anti-torpedo decoys for self-defence.[25][4] The weapon systems and sensors are integrated with Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System (SUBTICS). It has a sonar system is capable of Low Frequency Analysis and Ranging (LOFAR) enabling long range detection and classification.[4] Each submarine has a complement of 8 officers and 35 sailors.[41]

In February 2024, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the purchase of 48 heavyweight torpedoes for Kalvari class through a global tender to partially fulfil Navy's need of the weapon type until the indigenous torpedo of similar type, submarine version of Varunastra, clears all the trials.[42][43]

Operational history

On 24 March 2024, a Kalvari class submarine reached, the Campbell Bay, the southernmost port of India in the Nicobar Islands, for the first time.[44][45]

Ships of the class

Name Pennant Yard Builder Launched Commissioned Homeport Status
Fleet I
Kalvari S21 11875 Mazagon Dock Limited 27 October 2015[4] 14 December 2017[46] Active
Khanderi[47] S22[48] 11876 12 January 2017[49] 28 September 2019[50]
Karanj S23 11877[51] 31 January 2018[52] 10 March 2021[53][54][55]
Vela[56] S24 11878[57] 6 May 2019[58] 25 November 2021 [59]
Vagir[60] S25 11879[61] 12 November 2020[60] 23 January 2023[62][63][64]
Vagsheer S26 11880 20 April 2022[65] March 2024 (expected)[66] Sea trials[32]
Fleet II
TBD Mazagon Dock Limited To be ordered[35]
TBD
TBD

Gallery

  • Kalvari class submarine up close during an exercise.
    Kalvari class submarine up close during an exercise.
  • Trio of Kalvari class submarine during an exercise.
    Trio of Kalvari class submarine during an exercise.
  • Kalvari class and Shishumar class submarine during exercise.
    Kalvari class and Shishumar class submarine during exercise.
  • Khanderi at sea.
    Khanderi at sea.
  • Vela during sea trials.
    Vela during sea trials.
  • DRDO AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) model for Kalvari-class submarine
    DRDO AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) model for Kalvari-class submarine
  • Silhouette profile of Kalvari-class submarine.
    Silhouette profile of Kalvari-class submarine.
  • Vagir

See also

References

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