India to have 1st nuclear-powered attack submarine in a decade besides 100 new warships

New Delhi: India will have its first nuclear-powered attack submarine in a decade’s time apart from nearly 100 ships and submarines that the navy plans to add to the fleet by the same time, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff said here on Monday.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the Navy Day on Dec 4, Admiral Tripathi said agreements with French authorities to buy 26 Rafale-M naval combat aircraft and three additional Scorpene submarines might be finalised by January.

“The repeat order of three additional Scorpene class submarines is at an advanced stage. It's just a matter of completing the formalities,” he said. Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Ltd in collaboration with the French major Naval Group has earlier made six such submarines.

On the procurement of Rafale-M jets that will operate from the decks of aircraft carriers, Admiral Tripathi said, “We are at an advanced stage of the acquisition process, which is one level short of taking it to the Cabinet Committee on Security. It could be signed by next month.”

Asked about the induction of two nuclear powered attack submarines (SSN), Admiral Tripathi said, “2036-37 will be a realistic time frame to induct the first one and the second one can be inducted a couple of years later.”

After years of delay, the Union Cabinet has recently approved construction of the first two SSNs at the secretive Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam though the original plan is to construct six such SSNs indigenously. The SSN don’t carry nuclear-tipped missiles unlike the larger SSBNs (nuclear powered submarines carrying nuclear tipped ballistic missiles).

India currently operates two SSBNs – INS Arihant and INS Arighaat – while at least two more are under construction. “The first one has participated in a number of deterrence patrols while the second one is undergoing trials including missile tests,” he said.

In 1999, the Indian Navy came out with a plan to have 24 submarines over 30 years. So far only five of the Kalvari class boats have been inducted while the sixth one is carrying out trials and is ready to be commissioned soon.

The construction of the second batch of six diesel-electric submarines under P-75I is yet to start as the government has not yet finalised the foreign vendor and Indian shipyard while the third batch of six submarines will be the SSNs, of which only two have been approved.

In comparison, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy operates six SSBNs and six SSN, apart from nearly 50 conventional submarines.

Admiral Tripathi said 63 ships and submarines are under construction at various India ship yards and approvals were obtained for another 31. Also the Defence Ministry permitted buying 60 helicopters to replace the ageing Chetak fleet.

Moreover, two stealth frigates have been constructed at a Russian shipyard and the first one – Tushil – is set to be commissioned next week during the visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The second one, Tamal, will be delivered by the first quarter of 2025.

“For the next 12 months, we will be adding one ship to the fleet every month,” the navy chief said.