India’s submarine programme

Faced with the increasing age of its submarine fleet, the Indian Navy is building four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and six Scorpène-class diesel-electric hunter-killer boats (SSK)


1990s: India’s Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to build fleet of nuclear-powered
submarines takes shape

Oct 2005: Contract signed for Project 75(I). Six SSKs to be built by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and partner, France’s Naval Group

Jul 2009: INS Arihant, first SSBN built under ATV project, launched

Aug 2013: Reactor on board INS Arihant goes critical

Aug 2016: INS Arihant commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Nov 2017: INS Arighat, second SSBN launched, undergoing sea trials

Nov 2018: INS Arihant conducts first patrol. India’s air, land and sea “nuclear triad” is now operational

Oct 2015-May 2019: Four SSKs launched. INS Kalvari commissioned in December 2017. INS Khander, INS Karanj and INS Vela undergoing sea trials


K-4 missile*
Length: 10m
Diameter: 1.5m
Weight: 20 tonnes
Warhead: 2.5 tonnes

K-15 Sagarika:
Nuclear-capable
cruise missile
*Approximate specifications

INS Arihant

First of five ballistic missile submarines to be built by India

Length: 111m
Crew: 95

Six 533mm torpedo tubes

Armament: Four vertical launch tubes can carry four K-4 or 12 K-15 missiles (three per tube)

Propulsion
85MW nuclear reactor. Submerged speed: 24 knots


INS Kalvari
Length: 63.5m
Crew: 32

Six torpedo tubes

Propulsion
Two diesel-electric engines. Submerged speed: 20 knots


Sources: IISS, Jane’s Defence Weekly, The Diplomat
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