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K4/K5 SLBMs and the whole indigenous SSN programs are probably among the very few where we've been good at keeping the info under wraps and kept the public & adversaries guessing
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As this is a developing story of significant importance, I've started a new thread to compile the various reports & images. After a while this thread will be merged into the existing Nuclear submarine thread.
For a long while, there were reports & speculations that the last 2 of the 4 x Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) sanctioned for construction would be considerably bigger & carry more missile armament than the first two. Some dismissed these reports as hearsay, but now tangible proof has emerged in the form of satellite images obtained by open-source intelligence (OSINT) and by major Defence publications like IHS Janes.
It started with a report by Chris Biggers of Janes who stated that the S4 hull (3rd boat in class) was quietly launched last month without any fanfare:
However, this image in of itself could not substantiate the size (or comparative difference) of this boat as opposed to the first two (S2 INS Arihant & S3 INS Arighat). And then another OSINT handle Deadtrap777 obtained more recent imagery showing the three submarines docked at the Ship-Building Centre (SBC, a ubiquitous name for the facility in Vizag on east coast that builds India's nuclear submarines):
This image proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the 3rd boat was indeed larger - and considerably so. Further analysis was done by Submarine expert H.I. Sutton of Covert Shores (also writes for Forbes) in his article:
He states:
"Analysis of high resolution satellite images seen by me (I got them via OSINT, but I am unsure whether the satellite provider intended them to be public so I am not posting them here) suggests that it is about 20 meters longer overall. The forward hull, sail and stern appear, overall, largely unchanged. The hull diameter does not appear to have increased and the missile deck remains narrow. Taken together, this supports reports that the new submarine has 8 instead of 4 missile tubes. These will be arranged in a single row down the centerline.
The newest boat may also have an improved reactor."
A little of background on the "Arihant Stretch", and the executive-level decisions that shaped it, from an article by Sandeep Unnithan appearing in a 2017 issue of India Today:
"...the design got another tweak a decade ago after an intervention from then finance minister P. Chidambaram who was on the political committee which monitors the classified programme. The minister questioned the billions being spent on a boat launching just four nuclear tipped missiles. The ATV project team came back with an 'Arihant-stretch'-an additional 10-metre-long plug for four K-4 SLBMs to be integrated into the S-4, then on the design board. The plug would increase the weight of the submarine by nearly 1,000 tonnes..."
www.indiatoday.in
The plug (reported by Unnithan as 10-meter but analyzed by Sutton as being ~20 meter) would increase the submarine's displacement from 6,000 to 7,000 tons (surfaced), which means up to 8,000 tons submerged. It could possibly be more because an addition of ~1,000 tons was made against the backdrop of a 10-meter module, not a ~20 meter one.
With 8 missile tubes, the two boats of the Stretch variant could carry either:
8 x intermediate/intercontinental missiles like K-4/K-5 SLBMs
or up to 24 x medium-range ones like K-15 SLBMs (triple-packed in every tube, already done on S2 & S3)
In the future (mid/late 2030s) when the much larger 13,500-ton (initial estimate) "S-5" class SSBNs take over the deterrence role, the Arihants & Arihant Stretchs could be converted into a less demanding role i.e. SSGN. If the silo that can take 3 x 0.74m diameter K15 missiles can handle 5 or 6 x 0.52m diameter missiles like Nirbhay LACM, the Arihants could carry 20-24 vertically launched long range cruise missiles...while the Stretch variants can carry up to 40-48 such LACMs, a truly significant land-attack capability rivalling that of the Oscar II-class SSGN or even Virginia Block-V in terms of number of payloads.
I had already included the Arihant Stretch class into my Composition of Future Combatants of the Indian Navy:
defencehub.live
Further posts will be made as more details emerge. Tagging you @Nilgiri
@Anmdt @Cabatli_53 @Bilal Khan(Quwa)
For a long while, there were reports & speculations that the last 2 of the 4 x Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) sanctioned for construction would be considerably bigger & carry more missile armament than the first two. Some dismissed these reports as hearsay, but now tangible proof has emerged in the form of satellite images obtained by open-source intelligence (OSINT) and by major Defence publications like IHS Janes.
It started with a report by Chris Biggers of Janes who stated that the S4 hull (3rd boat in class) was quietly launched last month without any fanfare:
However, this image in of itself could not substantiate the size (or comparative difference) of this boat as opposed to the first two (S2 INS Arihant & S3 INS Arighat). And then another OSINT handle Deadtrap777 obtained more recent imagery showing the three submarines docked at the Ship-Building Centre (SBC, a ubiquitous name for the facility in Vizag on east coast that builds India's nuclear submarines):
This image proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the 3rd boat was indeed larger - and considerably so. Further analysis was done by Submarine expert H.I. Sutton of Covert Shores (also writes for Forbes) in his article:
He states:
"Analysis of high resolution satellite images seen by me (I got them via OSINT, but I am unsure whether the satellite provider intended them to be public so I am not posting them here) suggests that it is about 20 meters longer overall. The forward hull, sail and stern appear, overall, largely unchanged. The hull diameter does not appear to have increased and the missile deck remains narrow. Taken together, this supports reports that the new submarine has 8 instead of 4 missile tubes. These will be arranged in a single row down the centerline.
The newest boat may also have an improved reactor."
A little of background on the "Arihant Stretch", and the executive-level decisions that shaped it, from an article by Sandeep Unnithan appearing in a 2017 issue of India Today:
"...the design got another tweak a decade ago after an intervention from then finance minister P. Chidambaram who was on the political committee which monitors the classified programme. The minister questioned the billions being spent on a boat launching just four nuclear tipped missiles. The ATV project team came back with an 'Arihant-stretch'-an additional 10-metre-long plug for four K-4 SLBMs to be integrated into the S-4, then on the design board. The plug would increase the weight of the submarine by nearly 1,000 tonnes..."
From India Today magazine: A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines
Information about the ATV project is meagre. It operates directly under the supervision of national security advisor Ajit Doval and is now wrapped in deep levels of secrecy.
The plug (reported by Unnithan as 10-meter but analyzed by Sutton as being ~20 meter) would increase the submarine's displacement from 6,000 to 7,000 tons (surfaced), which means up to 8,000 tons submerged. It could possibly be more because an addition of ~1,000 tons was made against the backdrop of a 10-meter module, not a ~20 meter one.
With 8 missile tubes, the two boats of the Stretch variant could carry either:
8 x intermediate/intercontinental missiles like K-4/K-5 SLBMs
or up to 24 x medium-range ones like K-15 SLBMs (triple-packed in every tube, already done on S2 & S3)
In the future (mid/late 2030s) when the much larger 13,500-ton (initial estimate) "S-5" class SSBNs take over the deterrence role, the Arihants & Arihant Stretchs could be converted into a less demanding role i.e. SSGN. If the silo that can take 3 x 0.74m diameter K15 missiles can handle 5 or 6 x 0.52m diameter missiles like Nirbhay LACM, the Arihants could carry 20-24 vertically launched long range cruise missiles...while the Stretch variants can carry up to 40-48 such LACMs, a truly significant land-attack capability rivalling that of the Oscar II-class SSGN or even Virginia Block-V in terms of number of payloads.
I had already included the Arihant Stretch class into my Composition of Future Combatants of the Indian Navy:
Future of the Indian Navy: Combatant Fleet Composition
Future of the Indian Navy This is a list I'm making using purely open-source information regarding the fleet composition of the Indian Navy in the foreseeable future (confirmed programs seen through to their logical end, alongside existing vessels expected to serve till a reasonably distant...
defencehub.live
Further posts will be made as more details emerge. Tagging you @Nilgiri
@Anmdt @Cabatli_53 @Bilal Khan(Quwa)
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UK-based Janes Defence Weekly, citing satellite imagery sources, India has quietly launched its third Arihant-class nuclear-powered missile submarine at the secretive Ship Building Centre (SCB) in Visakhapatnam.
In its December 29 report, the magazine declared that the submersible ballistic nuclear submarine (SSBN), known simply as S4, was launched on November 23 and had been ‘relocated’ to near the ‘fitting-out wharf’ that was presently occupied by INS Arighat, the second such nuclear-armed missile submarine.
The Indian press had not reported the S4 SSBN’s launch. In this video Defense Updates analyzes why India's new S4 ballistic missile submarine would be the most powerful arrow in its quiver?
In its December 29 report, the magazine declared that the submersible ballistic nuclear submarine (SSBN), known simply as S4, was launched on November 23 and had been ‘relocated’ to near the ‘fitting-out wharf’ that was presently occupied by INS Arighat, the second such nuclear-armed missile submarine.
The Indian press had not reported the S4 SSBN’s launch. In this video Defense Updates analyzes why India's new S4 ballistic missile submarine would be the most powerful arrow in its quiver?
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What appears to be (to my untrained eye), a new submarine building dock (actually two docks side-by-side) well into construction a short distance north of the first one at SBC Vizag (which popped out S2, S3 & S4 and is now building S4*):
At approx ~185 meters long, its big enough to accommodate even Ohio-sized vessels (~170 meters). This could well be the dock the builds the future S-5 SSBN class (initial estimated displacement approx ~14,000 tons).
One of the two docks may end up being dedicated to the SSN class.
The ability to construct multiple hulls simultaneously is an extremely important capability if we plan to deliver both SSN & SSBN classes in the next decade. The current building dock is very long, enough to house 2 x hulls one behind the other under simultaneous build. This new dock(s) could add the ability to have another 2 hulls in construction at the same time.
S4 coming out of the first dock (S4* is probably in construction at the "2" spot I marked above:
@Nilgiri
At approx ~185 meters long, its big enough to accommodate even Ohio-sized vessels (~170 meters). This could well be the dock the builds the future S-5 SSBN class (initial estimated displacement approx ~14,000 tons).
One of the two docks may end up being dedicated to the SSN class.
The ability to construct multiple hulls simultaneously is an extremely important capability if we plan to deliver both SSN & SSBN classes in the next decade. The current building dock is very long, enough to house 2 x hulls one behind the other under simultaneous build. This new dock(s) could add the ability to have another 2 hulls in construction at the same time.
S4 coming out of the first dock (S4* is probably in construction at the "2" spot I marked above:
@Nilgiri
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Sat pics December 2021 - via IISS
www.iiss.org
Assessing Indias nascent nuclear triad
With tensions rising in the Indo-Pacific, India is making progress in developing its nuclear triad. Ongoing developments and acquisitions should help improve the capabilities and credibility of India’s nuclear forces.
www.iiss.org
Rajendra Chola
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Probably India's longer third SSBN S4 getting ready for Sea Trials.
fire starter
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The one on right is most probably the P75A/SSN but the one on left appears to be just Arihant, not S-5.
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India sharpens its nuclear deterrent with a SLBM launch from INS Arihant
India on Friday added new teeth to its nuclear deterrent by test firing a ballistic missile from INS Arihant, its atomic powered submarine.
www.indianarrative.com
India on Friday added new teeth to its nuclear deterrent by test firing a ballistic missile from INS Arihant, its atomic powered submarine.
The Arihant is at the core of India’s nuclear triad, empowering New Delhi to launch atomic weapons from the ground, air and the sea. The Arihant is central to India’s second-strike capability—an ability to potently counterstrike after absorbing a first strike by a hostile force.
India’s land based nuclear deterrent includes land based solid fuelled Agni series of missiles which have a maximum range of around 5000 kilometres, with a footprint that extends deep into China. Tactical nuclear can be fire by the short range Prithvi missile. India’s recently developed Agni-P has been containerised be fired from mobile launchers.
Today’s launch precedes that 20th Party Congress in China, which is expected to endorse General Secretary Xi Jinping’s controversial leadership tenure by another five years.
In a statement the defence ministry said: “The missile was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy. All operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated”.
The successful user trial of the SLBM signals the Navy has acquired the training to launch the weapon, which can now become operational.
The ministry said that launch proves the crew’s competence to operate a Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarines (SSBNs).
India has three types of submarines. The SSBN subs are not only powered by a long endurance nuclear engine, they can also fire nuclear tipped ballistic.
India is (planning) four Arihant class SSBNs. Sea trials of INS Arighat began in 2017. The final two boats, INS Aridhaman and an unnamed vessel are likely to be much larger than the Arihant.
India also developing six nuclear-powered SSNs or submarines that are powered by an atomic engine but deploy only conventional missiles. India’s rapidly evolving submarine project includes six Kalvari class French origin Scorpene submarines which will also be retrofitted with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), which will allow them to stay beneath the surface for a much longer time. The last two of the boats of this class are likely to be equipped with AIP, and the other four will be subsequently retrofitted with the technology.
AIP technology allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen, greatly enhancing their underwater endurance.
“A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence’ that underpins its ‘No First Use’ commitment,” the ministry added, signalling the Arihant’s second-strike capability once armed with Submarine Launch Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs).
INS Arihant was launched on July 26, 2009, by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Its atomic reactor was activated in August 2013.
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Sorry for a little bit off topic, Is this true that France offers Barracuda SSN for P75 Alpha?
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Nothing official yet.
I'd reckon we're more interested in obtaining technology rather than outright Barracudas, however the French SSNs are built around LEU reactors whereas India's infrastructure is HEU-based. So if there is to be cooperation or tech-sharing, it's likely to be in the fields of sonar, pumpjets and/or NEP.
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In wake of Indo-US nuclear deal (of mid 2000s), I remember the original plan (of project 75) was to acquire 12 hulls, 6 hulls from the West and 6 hulls from the Russians....with the view to make the next follow up project one that would combine the best elements from both.
That never came to pass....and has now evolved to what it is today (with the French offer, which is actually about a couple years old now and has been brought up by US commentators like Ashley Tellis and others too earlier in their analysis reports) i.e "INFRUS":
Quad Archive
An article was published in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) by Andrew Tillett, following up on the recently-concluded Virtual Summit between the Prime Ministers of India & Australia (which was incidentally right after PM Modi's in-person summit with the Japanese PM Kishida). It talks about...
defencehub.live
The Russians increased cooperation with India regarding the BARC powerplant (miniaturisation of which had started in the 90s by India) around that time of the original Project conception. Hence why the (190 MW) powerplant is something of an ongoing hybrid result (and likely needs much more work to bring to fruition)....but the technology is owned and will be provided by India for the SSN project (as it stands now).
A french reactor (past other issues involved) is LEU and not the HEU one BARC and Indian defence planners want (in order to reduce fuel replenishment frequency).
There is also likely a scaling back of the SSN project to 3 hulls now given the cost escalations envisaged....with the hope that a later follow up project can ramp up to more hulls then:
Not 6, now India to buy only 3 nuclear submarines as cost escalates
The Indian Navy may receive approval to purchase only three nuclear submarines during the initial stage. The original plan, which envisaged the procurement of six submarines in the initial lot has been scrapped by the defence ministry due to high procurement costs
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@Nilgiri I almost know nothing about SSN propulsion technology.
But how much refueling LEU reactor cost on avarage? Does it require hull cutting?
Also I am wondering if india's first generation indigenous SSN would be as quiet ( in terms of hull and propulsion system ) and advanced ( in sensors and CMC package ) as Astute or Virginia boats.
But how much refueling LEU reactor cost on avarage? Does it require hull cutting?
Also I am wondering if india's first generation indigenous SSN would be as quiet ( in terms of hull and propulsion system ) and advanced ( in sensors and CMC package ) as Astute or Virginia boats.
