India's Submarines | How Strong is it?

India's submarines are vital in defending the country's maritime interests and territorial integrity.

Narrated by Tom McKay
Video Edited by Iyanbriandi

Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.

[BehindAsia]

How strong do you think India's submarines are? Let us know down below!

[MarketingAssorted-rgpy]

⛵Apart from P-5 countries, India is the only country which can build aircraft carrier and nuclear powered submarine.

[anantr]

A number of points were either missed or not covered, so here they are:

1. Sindhughosh- / Kilo-class submarines: The Indian Navy originally procured 8 submarines in this class, commissioning between 1986 and 1991. In 1994, plans for the fifth and sixth Shishumar-class submarines were cancelled (more on this in a minute), and it was decided to acquire two additional Kilo-class boats, which entered service in 1997 and 2000. These submarines are capable of firing anti-ship missiles as well. 7 of the boats remain in service, with one having been decommissioned and donated to Myanmar in 2020, one currently in reserve, and one being lost in a dockside accident in 2013. The Kilo-class were procured with a planned 35 year life, which has been extended to 40 years. As such, these boats will start leaving service in about 2-3 years.

2. Shishumar-class / Type 209-1500 submarines: The Indian Navy planned to acquire 6 submarines to a derivative design of the German Type 209 series. As such, these are the largest of the Type 209 family, and the only Type 209-1500 submarines built. The first pair was built entirely in Germany, with the second pair having some sections sent from Germany and the rest built in India. The third pair was cancelled in 1994 by the government over the Navy's objections (political shenanigans and allegations of corruption there, though the allegations were later disproven). As of now, only the second pair can fire Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The submarines were originally procured with a 40 year life, but seeing that multiple nations have successfully retained these submarines in active service for 45 years, the current plan is to have these boats for 45 years. INS Shishumar has already received her final LIFEX (life extension refit), and INS Shankush has recently gone in for her LIFEX, with the second pair to follow. There are reports which say that these boats may be fitted with India's locally developed AIP (air-independent propulsion) module, but this remains to be seen. As such, these boats will start retiring at the start of the next decade.

3. Kalvari-class / Scorpene submarines: The Kalvari-class were procured under Project 75, which came from the 1999 plan to acquire 12 submarines in two classes from different OEMs under Projects 75 and 75I, and then to build 6 indigenous submarines under Project 76. The Kalvari-class are a customised version of the Scorpene design, and five of the six boats are in service. The sixth submarine, INS Vagsheer, is planned to be commissioned in a few months. Moreover, due to delays in Project 76, it is currently planned to build a further three Kalvari-class submarines. The Kalvari-class submarines do not have AIP, but they are scheduled to be refitted with AIP, starting with INS Kalvari in 2025.

4. Project 75I: The second pair of submarines under the 1999 plan forms Project 75I. Originally, the five nations mentioned in the video (Russia, Germany, France, South Korea, and Spain) were all involved with their designs. France's suggestion of a modified Scorpene-class submarine was rejected (they had won Project 75 anyways, so a second design was pointless). Russia changed their offer to the Improved Kilo-class submarines in 2019, and the Indian Navy absolutely refused to even consider the revised offering, leading to their disqualification. South Korea was offering the KSS-III submarine, but withdrew for undisclosed reasons in 2022. Germany (with their Type 212A / Type 214 submarine) and Spain (with their S80 Plus submarine) are in the running. Just three days back, the technical evaluation was concluded, and negotiations are to begin within weeks. It is planned to have the contract signed before the end of 2025, and the first of these submarines may enter service in 2032-33.

5. Project 76: Project 76 came out of the 1999 plan, and visualises an entirely indigenous Indian submarine. However, the project has been delayed, with the design expected to be finalised in 2027-28 rather than 2024-25. At the same time, however, the procurement has been increased from 6 submarines to 12, with the goal of having the first boat in service by 2035-36. It is speculated that these submarines may carry VLS cells for anti-ship missiles, but it remains to be seen.

6. Project 75A: Project 75A is the plan for an Indian-designed nuclear-powered attack submarine. While initial plans called for 6 submarines, the present plan is to have an initial batch of 3, followed by a second batch of 3-5 ships. Almost nothing has been released about the design, though it has been reported that the submarines will start construction by 2025-26 at the latest, with the first boat commissioning latest by 2033-35.

7. Arihant-class submarines: The Arihant-class are a result of India's Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) program, and the class has nuclear-powered nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines. Arihant is the first nuclear-powered submarine, as well as the first nuclear-armed submarine, as well as the first ballistic submarine built outside P5 (the 5 permanent UNSC members). Arihant and Arighat (the latter speculated to have entered service in 2022-23) are being followed by a further 2 enlarged submarines in the class, which will double the missile-carrying capacity. It is expected that the third submarine will enter service by 2026-27.

8. S5-class submarines: The S5-class represents India's second class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. While still in development, these boats (currently planned as a class of 3) will enter service in the 2040s.

On the whole, India's submarine arm is fairly decent, though the main challenge is the upcoming obsolescence of a large portion of the fleet. As such, the current challenge will be to ensure that the submarines currently planned or under construction enter service without delays. That will allow for a large and powerful submarine arm to be maintained, considering the Indian Navy visualises a fleet of 27-32 diesel-electric attack submarines, 6-8 nuclear attack submarines, and 4-6 nuclear ballistic missile submarines by 2047 (the centenary of India's independence).

[Muhd_Aziz-x]

India is asian tiger... India is the king of indian ocean 🚩⚔️🐯👑🇮🇳

[rohitprajapati]

so much hate just bcz they cant see indias growth. well india was the greatest and will be great again. they can cry, we indian dont care.😂

[arpandey]

What is india's economic strength ?
By the way Agni-5 got MIRV technology😊

[AlexLee-dcvb]

I hope India continues building more subs, considering that the US is failing to expand its fleet quickly enough to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan

[vivekmohanta]

Pleased to see that correct map of India was used by the content creator. Hopeful people get to see more relevant content about India

[paavangoyal]

3:12 factual inaccuracy: the sindhugosh class, being a kilo class derivative uses russian weapons, like the test 71/76 or the 53-65 torpedo. the atlas elektronik model in not used on the sindhugosh class but the sishumar and kalvari classes as it is a german origin torpedo design like the sishumar class, band the scorpene uses it as well, due to eu relations

[jaketyler]

Great Information. Excellent. Long Live India.

[akshaymykar]

Good news we will make our own submarines from now on and upgrade the old ones too since L&T and DRDO has already developed it's very own AIP.

[dakshmalhotra]

I got the chance to visit the INS Karanj recently thanks to my father's position in the defense forces. Truly a marvel of engineering!

[paavangoyal]

8:44 bruh, s4 was launched in 2021, how old is your inf0?

[Mathew-jk]

The details of India's armed forces are kept in strict secrecy.
Even the Americans never knew the happenings in Pokhran until after our nuclear tests.
It shall remain so.

[NoklamalamAlam-nhwn]

Today time no one can beat india brother, 🇮🇳♥️🇮🇳 india military is very strong today time' 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[paavangoyal]

6:10 every submarine since the 60's has had these exact features in the exact same way

[amardave]

Indian submarine fleet is anemic considering it's 7000km Coast line.

[paavangoyal]

4:52 again, not planned: shalki and shankush can already fire them

[mercedesbenz]

We lack the submarines btw. We need to increase their numbers.

[sunilgavade]

The NGAD programme will provide the USAF with the sixth-generation combat aircraft in a teaming arrangement with mission-focused unmanned platforms, along with advanced weapons, electronic warfare systems, and sensors to enable mission success in a highly contested battlespace.