Project 75 Alpha

The Indian Navy aims to procure new nuclear-powered attack submarines under Project 75 Alpha.[2] The Government of India approved the construction of six of such submarines in February 2015.[3] These will be designed by the Navy's in-house Directorate of Naval Design and built in India at the Shipbuilding Centre at Visakhapatnam. The construction is expected to commence on 2023-24 while the first submarine is expected to enter service in 2032.

For the conventional-attack submarine programme, see Project 75I-class submarine.
Class overview
NameProject 75 Alpha
BuildersNavy Shipbuilding Centre, Visakhapatnam
Operators Indian Navy (Planned)
Cost₹1.2 lakh crore (equivalent to ₹1.4 trillion or US$18 billion in 2023) total cost[1]
In commission2030s
Planned6
General characteristics
TypeNuclear attack submarine
Propulsion1 x CLWR-B2 Compact Light-water reactor 190 MW (250,000 hp)
RangeUnlimited except by food supplies
ArmamentVarunastra heavyweight torpedo, Nirbhay, BrahMos and BrahMos-II land-attack/anti-ship cruise missiles

Since India is a traditional user of Russian nuclear submarines (with INS Chakra on lease) the new domestically built submarines would be third class of SSN operated by Indian navy after leased Charlie I and Akula II-class submarines.[4][5]

Development

The program to construct and deploy a fleet of nuclear submarines was first envisaged in late 1990s. Patrolling by People's Liberation Army Navy ships further fast-tracked India's naval expansion programs. As per the initial plan, first 4 Arihant class submarines and later much larger S5 class nuclear ballistic missile submarines, and 6 nuclear attack submarines were planned.[6]

The submarines will be powered by a miniature pressurised water reactor (PWR) being developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre which has already supplied a similar 83 MW miniature reactor for the Arihant-class submarine SSBNs.[4]

On 24 June 2019, it was reported that ₹100 crore (US$13 million) have been allocated for the initial phase of the project. The submarines will be designed by Directorate of Naval Design (now called Warship Design Bureau) and the development is expected to continue till 2025. Mishra Dhatu Nigam is developing a new hull material that is expected to allow the submarine to dive to deeper depths than Arihant class. A scaled down model of the submarine is planned to be tested first. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around ₹1 lakh crore (equivalent to ₹1.2 trillion or US$15 billion in 2023).[7]

In February 2020, The Economic Times reported that the preliminary design phase of the programme has been successfully completed. The report stated that Submarine Design Group of the Directorate of Naval Design, assisted by the DRDO, will now start working on the detailed design and construction phase of the programme.[1]

The Indian Navy has prioritized the construction of Project 75 Alpha submarines over the third aircraft carrier.[8]

Initially three submarines are planned to undergo construction in 2023-24 while the remaining three will get clearance later. The first boat is expected to enter service in 2032.[9][10] The ship class will have a final design clearance in Gurugram by Submarine Design Group, its nuclear reactor will be built in Kalpakkam, hull fabrication will take place in Hazira and finally assembly and sea trials will be undertaken at the ship-building centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.[11]

See also

References
  1. Pubby, Manu (21 February 2020). "India's Rs 1.2 lakh crore nuclear submarine project closer to realisation". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  2. Bhattacharjee, Sumit (4 December 2020). "INS Vikrant may be inducted by 2022-23, says ENC Chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  3. "Government clears construction of 7 stealth frigates, 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines". The Economic Times. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  4. "Watch Out, China: India Is Building 6 Nuclear Attack Submarines". The National Interest. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  5. "India finalizing plans to order three more Scorpene submarines". The Times of India. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  6. Unnithan, Sandeep (10 December 2017). "A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019.
  7. Pubby, Manu (24 June 2019). "Work begins on India's next gen nuclear-powered submarines". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  8. Gupta, Shishir (24 March 2021). "For Navy, 6 nuclear-powered submarines take priority over 3rd aircraft carrier". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. "Project-77 (formerly Project-75 Alpha): India may reduce number of SSN to 3, from planned 6 initially". IgMp. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  10. Pandit, Rajat (31 March 2021). "Project to build N-powered attack subs set to get CCS nod". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  11. Unnithan, Sandeep (17 April 2021). "India's nuclear sharks". India Today. New Delhi. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
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