Il Khanderi (S-51), second Indian submarine of the class Scorpène, built by Mazagon Dock Limited, in Mumbai was delivered for sea trials. Both the Khanderi and the Kalvari (S-50), delivered last May and still undergoing sea trials off the coast of Mumbai, do not have the main offensive equipment after canceling the commission of the heavy torpedoes Black Shark of Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (today Defense Systems Division of Leonardo). When they enter service with the Indian Navy, Indian submarines will only be armed with MBDA's anti-ship missiles Exocet SM-39.
The '75' program involves the construction of six class submarines Scorpène within the 2020. The Indian Navy has signed a contract of 4,6 billion dollars with France, in the 2005, to build under license the platform designed by the DCNS companies. Work on the first boat began in May of the 2009. Baptized at home class Kalvari, is designed to operate at greater depths, compared to others of its same size, estimated in 300 meters (350 test). The project uses a particular specific high-performance steel that allows it to operate at such depths while the entire class has been built with safety techniques and protocols to attenuate any type of underwater sound emission. The profile itself of the class Scorpène it should be hardly detectable by enemy sonars.
Class diesel-electric attack submarines Scorpène were designed by the companies DCN and Navantia, united in the DCNS consortium. The platform is also equipped with independent propulsion from the extra air (the AIP module is Indian). AIP systems allow the non-nuclear submarine to operate without the use of outside air. While for the reactor of a nuclear submarine cooling liquid must be continuously pumped, generating a certain amount of detectable noise, the non-nuclear battery-powered boats with AIP system, would sail in silence. The AIP propulsion allows it to extend its navigation to a maximum of 70 days. The old specifications should be revised after the file is published Restricted Scorpene India, dated 2011, of 22.400 classified pages containing technical information on submarines. A little less than 70 meters, with a width of 6,2 meters and a displacement of 1700 tons, provides a crew of 31 men. Its maximum speed in diving is estimated at 37 km / h while surface navigation can reach 22 km / h. The six 533mm tubes were designed in primary form to launch heavy torpedoes Black Shark designed by Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei, anti-ship missiles Exocet about thirty mines.
Last May, the Indian government canceled the 300 million dollar contract with Leonardo due to alleged bribes on the 560 million tender for AgustaWestland's 12 AW101 helicopters sold to India in the 2010. The agreement provided for the supply of torpedoes Black Shark, an integral part and primary weapon system for the Kalvari class. Each submarine was designed to carry 16 torpedoes made by WASS. The Indian Ministry of Defense has not yet issued a new tender for the supply of heavy torpedoes, although the proposals are still being evaluated SeaHake of Atlas Elektronik made in Germany and the French F21.
India currently has in service 13 conventional submarines (not all capable of diving) and two nuclear-powered submarines.
(photo: DCNS)
