So India and Russia announced, on March 7, 2019, that India will lease yet another Russian built Akula class nuclear propelled attack submarine (SSN).
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AGE AND CLEANING
The "new" submarine to be 10 year(?) leased (maybe 2025-2036 for US3 to 3.3 Billion) will probably be the current Russian Navy Kashalot (K-322) - hereinafter called Chakra"III".
III is actually older than India's current leased Akula Chakra II (was Russian Nerpa), hereinafter called "II". The most significant milestone in a submarine's age may be its "Launched" year. II was launched in 2006.
III was launched way back in 1987. Due to Russian national and military bankruptcy in the late 1980s III was laidup then mothballed in Severodvinsk (within Russia's massive Northern Fleet complex).
Due to III already being 33 years old and mothballed for decades it will need to be derusted outside and even more crucially inside, especially between:
- its inside pressure and outside hulls,
- inside, especially high pressure, pipes
- within its often seawater filled buoyancy tanks, and
- on the insides of III's diesel tanks, which feed its emergency diesel generators.
Even if relaunched around 2023 III may still have alot of hidden rust.
III's 33 year old reactor will need to be refurbished and refueled. Then III will be modernised with new Russian and Indian torpedo-missile tubes, modern communications and sensors.
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Looking at Wiki right sidebar if the future lease III is unpgraded to Akula III status is may have the following specs:
- 8,500 tons (surfaced), 13,800 tons (submerged).
- 113.3m long, 13.6m beam,
- 1 x 190MW OK-650B/OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactor, 1 OK-7 steam turbine 32MW.
Reactor likely needs refueling every 9 years (?). The OK-650 was developed in the 1970s but, as a
sign of Russian naval budget austerity, the OK-650 reactor is still being fitted to Russia's latest
submarines, eg. the new Borei/Borey SSBN.
STEALTH AND LEASING
Contrary to this source's "Current status" subheading the Soviet built late 1970s designed Akula's are nowhere near "among the best nuclear vessels in the world in terms of stealth". Not "best" compared to the US Virginia's or Seawolves, to the UK Astutes or to Russia's Yasens. A Yasen, being much more capable, was what India tried to lease but Russia refused. But a leased Indian Akula II may be the equal in stealth or better than its Chinese opposition which will be Type 093 Shangs and future Type 095s.
India would be prudent if it carries out an intention to extend the 10 year lease (currently to 2022) of II by 5 years to 2027. The more years the greater strategic and tactical effect. This will cover India for any delay in rebuilding and improving III and also holds the prospect that India could lease operate the two Chakras concurrently. Two SSN's to defend India's two (INS Arihant and Arighat) SSBNs is a prudent naval policy and tactic. Also one more new Indian SSBN is likely to be launched by the mid-2020s - needing SSN protection for a higher tempo of SSBN deterrence patrols.
Later this week "What will India's Future Leased "Chakra III" be Used For?"
Pete
Akula on surface. Note large rear pod, from which a long towed sonar array can be spooled.
---
AGE AND CLEANING
The "new" submarine to be 10 year(?) leased (maybe 2025-2036 for US3 to 3.3 Billion) will probably be the current Russian Navy Kashalot (K-322) - hereinafter called Chakra"III".
III is actually older than India's current leased Akula Chakra II (was Russian Nerpa), hereinafter called "II". The most significant milestone in a submarine's age may be its "Launched" year. II was launched in 2006.
III was launched way back in 1987. Due to Russian national and military bankruptcy in the late 1980s III was laidup then mothballed in Severodvinsk (within Russia's massive Northern Fleet complex).
Due to III already being 33 years old and mothballed for decades it will need to be derusted outside and even more crucially inside, especially between:
- its inside pressure and outside hulls,
- inside, especially high pressure, pipes
- within its often seawater filled buoyancy tanks, and
- on the insides of III's diesel tanks, which feed its emergency diesel generators.
Even if relaunched around 2023 III may still have alot of hidden rust.
III's 33 year old reactor will need to be refurbished and refueled. Then III will be modernised with new Russian and Indian torpedo-missile tubes, modern communications and sensors.
Diagram of Akula submarine. Note its relatively small, streamlined, fin/sail, which improves chances of attaining 35 knots submered and theoretically with reduced hydrodynamic flow noise.
(Diagram courtesy Robert Whiston's Weblog 2011)
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SPECIFICATIONS(Diagram courtesy Robert Whiston's Weblog 2011)
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Looking at Wiki right sidebar if the future lease III is unpgraded to Akula III status is may have the following specs:
- 8,500 tons (surfaced), 13,800 tons (submerged).
- 113.3m long, 13.6m beam,
- 1 x 190MW OK-650B/OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactor, 1 OK-7 steam turbine 32MW.
Reactor likely needs refueling every 9 years (?). The OK-650 was developed in the 1970s but, as a
sign of Russian naval budget austerity, the OK-650 reactor is still being fitted to Russia's latest
submarines, eg. the new Borei/Borey SSBN.
- 2 x OK-300 retractable electric propulsors for low-speed, quiet manoeuvring at 5 knots
- Speed up to 35 knots submerged,
- Endurance 100 days limited by food.
- Test depth 520m
- A small complement up to 62, does that imply it only has short-medium cruises of up to
40 days (?). A rather small crew compared to 134 on US Virginia's and 98 on UK Astutes.
40 days (?). A rather small crew compared to 134 on US Virginia's and 98 on UK Astutes.
- Armament - if same as Chakra II then likely 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes (with up to 40 mix of
torpedoes and missiles). Klub/Club S missiles (and maybe newer 530mm BrahMos) anti-ship and
land attack missiles. This is assuming there are no lease terms that mean "no armament?"
torpedoes and missiles). Klub/Club S missiles (and maybe newer 530mm BrahMos) anti-ship and
land attack missiles. This is assuming there are no lease terms that mean "no armament?"
STEALTH AND LEASING
Contrary to this source's "Current status" subheading the Soviet built late 1970s designed Akula's are nowhere near "among the best nuclear vessels in the world in terms of stealth". Not "best" compared to the US Virginia's or Seawolves, to the UK Astutes or to Russia's Yasens. A Yasen, being much more capable, was what India tried to lease but Russia refused. But a leased Indian Akula II may be the equal in stealth or better than its Chinese opposition which will be Type 093 Shangs and future Type 095s.
India would be prudent if it carries out an intention to extend the 10 year lease (currently to 2022) of II by 5 years to 2027. The more years the greater strategic and tactical effect. This will cover India for any delay in rebuilding and improving III and also holds the prospect that India could lease operate the two Chakras concurrently. Two SSN's to defend India's two (INS Arihant and Arighat) SSBNs is a prudent naval policy and tactic. Also one more new Indian SSBN is likely to be launched by the mid-2020s - needing SSN protection for a higher tempo of SSBN deterrence patrols.
Later this week "What will India's Future Leased "Chakra III" be Used For?"
Pete