Two more submarines on cards

Approvals have already been granted for building two more nuclear-powered submarines in the Arihant class, according to sources.

The construction of the hull for the next one is already underway at a facility of Larson and Toubro (L&T) at Hazira where the first hull was also built, the sources said.

Costing over Rs3,000 crore, the three submarines will be based at a facility being developed close to Vishakpatnam. For the new nuclear submarine base at Rambilli, hundreds of acres of land has already been acquired and the navy is hoping to commission the base by 2011 in time for INS Arihant’s commissioning.

Two of these submarines would be deep in the sea at any given point of time while the third will rest at the base, the sources said.

The government has also given clearance for the construction of much bigger SSBNs, each of them costing about $2 billion (approximately Rs 10,000 crore each). This would take off once the three Arihant class submarines are ready. SSBNs are nuclear-powered submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles.

Besides, the navy has also proposed the construction of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that would provide escort to the SSBNs.

The SSBNs are not on “patrol” nor are they looking at attacking large ships or tactical targets on land. They are primarily used to hide nuclear weapons and are kept ready for a second strike in case everything else fails.

Each of the present class of Advanced Technology Vessels (ATV) are to be manned by a 100-member crew. The team is being trained in Visakhapatnam.

The training will get a boost when a nuclear submarine leased from Russia arrives sometime later this year.

Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said they are ready with K-15 missiles, which has a range of over 750 kilometres and can carry 1,000-kg
warheads.

A follow-on missile with over 3500-kilometre range — named K-X — is also underdevelopment for the nuclear submarines, the DRDO sources said.