Indian Navy’s Capability Perspective

In long-term defence planning, there are always slippages in terms of time, technology and funds. The wish list of a service may not match with the ground realities and thus the gap between plan and implementation will always be there. It is thus fervently hoped that the force levels as per MCPP fructifies.

LT GENERAL (RETD) NARESH CHAND

THE INDIAN NAVY’S PERSPECTIVE-PLANNING in terms of ‘force-levels’ is now driven by a conceptual shift from ‘numbers’ of platforms to one that concentrates upon ‘capabilities’. Accordingly, the Indian Navy had drawn out a key document titled, ‘The Navy’s Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP)’ that emphasised on capability building rather than numbers. The MCPP lays down the plans for force development and modernisation over three plan periods from 2005-22. The aim is to build a three-dimensional force that is able to meet all future challenges. CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma had said during the last Navy Day briefing that the Indian Navy will look like a “brand new” force by 2027 with a combatant level of 150-odd warships and another 500odd aircraft fleet. It is also planning to add 49 new warships and submarines in the next few years that are on order from both Indian and foreign shipyards.

At present, the Indian Navy has 132 ships including 14 submarines and 216 aircraft, of which 80 are fixed wing, 122 helicopters and 14 unmanned aerial vehicles. Normally, in long-term defence planning, there are always slippages in terms of time, technology and funds. The wish list of a service may not match with the ground realities and thus the gap between plan and implementation will always be there. However, in India, the gap always remains very large. It is thus fervently hoped that the force levels as per MCPP fructifies.

Likely Force Accretions and Other Developments in 2012

Nuclear powered submarines India is trying hard to become a regional power for which it needs a nuclear triad. A nuclear triad consists of a nuclear arsenal which is based on land, sea and air. Such a configuration reduces the chances of destruction of the complete national nuclear arsenal in a single strike thereby ensuring a second strike capability and also provides a degree of deterrence. This is very relevant in India’s strategy of no first strike. It also has longer reach and flexibility in employment. A nuclear triad is very expensive to acquire and maintain, thus only three countries i.e. US, Russian Federation and China, have it, and now India is trying to muscle in this exclusive club. The essential components of a nuclear triad are: Land-based medium-range ballistic missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles. Nuclear powered submarines carrying nuclear ballistic missiles. Bombers capable of delivering nuclear tipped bombs or missiles. The bombers can be based on land or an aircraft carrier. There are two major components of the sea-based triad i.e. a nuclear powered submarine and a nuclear tipped ballistic missile. At present India has none, but it hopes to acquire them in the near future. Currently, it is building its own nuclear powered submarines and also leasing one from Russia to acquire experience.

India 110 metres and a breadth of 11 metres. Unconfirmed reports claim that it can carry 12 Sagarika K15 SLBMs which have a range of about 700 km in four silos. K15 is in the advance stages of development with the DRDO which is also developing a SLBM version of Agni-III numbered K-4. Four of these missiles can be carried in place of K15 which will have a much longer range than Sagarika. It is also understood that India plans to have three SSBNs and six SSNs in the near future. 2012 is a good year for nuclear powered submarines as INS Arihant has completed harbour acceptance trials (HAT) and is to undergo sea acceptance trials (SAT) during 2012 which will be the accomplishment of a major milestone. An effective second-strike capability is mainly dependent on having nuclear-powered submarines, armed with SLBMs. INS Arihant is thus crucial to India’s nuclear deterrence doctrine which is based on “no-first use” policy. Media reports also indicate that the work on second indigenous nuclear submarine named INS Aridhaman is in full swing and work on the third submarine, S3, will start soon.

As per Wikileaks, Pakistan is having more nuclear warheads than India; and China is way ahead with 240 warheads. Pakistan does not have a nuclear powered submarine but China has 10 out of a submarine fleet of 62, with three of them being SSBNs. India, on the other hand, has just 15 conventional diesel-electric submarines which are ageing. India, thus needs to get its ‘nuclear avatar’ sooner than later to prevent arm twisting by China. Conventional Submarines The Indian Navy has also formulated a 30year Submarine Perspective Plan for augmenting and sustaining a submarine force level. The plan envisaged, among things, two separate indigenous production lines which could build submarines of two different origins/designs. The delivery schedule of the new submarines was to be dovetailed with the phasing out of the existing Shishumar and Sindhughosh classes of submarines, to that the minimum submarine force levels was always available. The two distinct submarine designs were christened as Project 75 and Project 75(I). While the former was to utilise the infrastructure available at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), another shipyard was to be identified and developed for the second production line. Project 75 Scorpene is progressing at MDL, although with many delays.

India issued a request for information (RFI) under Project 75I in 2008 for procuring of six AIP equipped submarines with high degree of stealth and land-attack capability. Project 75I will follow Project 75, acquire six Scorpene submarines and is expected to cost about $10 billion (`50,000 crore) (current estimates are $ 11.10 billion-`55,500 crore). Like the Scorpenes, Project 75I submarines are also to be built at an Indian shipyard, public or private, with special emphasis on full transfer of technology. As reported during July 2010 that the Defence Acquisitions Council, chaired by Defence Minister A.K. Antony, had decided that three of the six submarines will be constructed at MDL in Mumbai and