India’s Bluewater Naval preparedness – Part I

(INS Arihant Special Episode)

What is a Bluewater Capability ?

Blue-water naval capability means that a naval fleet is able to operate on the high seas without the need to come back to the shore. This includes long time sustenance which includes the security of the formation from sea, under sea and air, replenishment of supplies and repair / overhauling. Apart from Bluewater capability there are two more popular terms commonly used Green water capability (Littoral reach from coast to territorial limits of 200 nautical miles) and Brown water capability (riverine internal reaches). Currently globally six nations has that capacity, they are US, UK, France, South Korea, China and India.

Typically Indian Navy comprises of three fleets namely Western Naval Command, Eastern Command and Far Eastern Naval Command.

Currently India has INS Viraat an age old Aircraft career, in 2014 another 2 refitted Aircraft Carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya would be put into service. Apart from it there are amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa, Landing crafts, Fleet Tankers especially Deepak Class, nuclear-powered attack submarine, Scorpene class & Akula class submarines.

Introduction to the Significance of Indian Bluewater Naval Capability

India is one of the most important country in terms of trade in the Indian ocean. It is the second most populous country in the world after China. Thus there is always a huge demand for large scale import and export of goods to and from India through Indian ocean. Thus maritime security of it’s prime trade route is the key to the sustenance as a nation. The requirement is quite similar to China, which also imports and exports in large scale. The ports of Indian Ocean handle about 30% of the world commerce. The trade flowing through Indian Ocean comprises 80% for extra-regional and 20% for intra-regional countries. Half of the world containerized traffic traverses through Indian Ocean. Since ancient times India had bluewater naval capabilities and had seaborne trade route into far flung countries as far as Alexandria in the west and Bali in the east.

Rapidly militarizing Indian ocean is a matter of grave concern. Especially with the presence of Diego Garcia (A strategic US-UK post in the Indian ocean) to safeguard US interest in Asia-pacific and Reunion Islands (A French Island in Indian Ocean) to keep French control on the Indian Ocean trade routes, thanks to the growing suspicious role of the Chinese navy, Indian navy has no other choice but to strengthen it’s bluewater (ocean going / long sustenance with limited support from ground based base) capability.

The below charts would show major global sea freight routes (see Fig 1) some global choke points which are strategic to India’s global sea freight (see Fig 2).

Fig 1 (Militarization of Indian Ocean)

French Naval Base @ Reunion Islands, US Long Range Surveillance Base @ Australian Coco Islands, US Naval Base @ Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Chinese Naval Replenishment Facility @ Seychelles, Yemen and Oman, Chinese Naval Communication Base @ Myanmar’s Coco Islands north of Indian Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Fig 2

INS Arihant

It is the India’s first indigenously built nuclear powered submarine, the construction of the submarine is complete, the sea trials are underway which would take another 6 months. It was primarily a DRDO brainchild. Looking at the good progress and impressive features in design and in yard trials, the Indian government has decided to build two more of its type. INS Arihant will be armed with K-15 ballistic missiles, capable of delivering nuclear warheads up to 700 km.

Key Statistics:

·         Displacement: 6,000 tons

·         Length: 112m

·         Beam: 10m

·         Powerplant: 83 MWe PWR

·         Crew: 95

·         Surface Speed: 12-15 kts

·         Submerged Speed: 24 kts

·         Armament: 12 K-15 Sagarika missiles, Torpedos, Torpedo launched cruise missiles

In layman terms, this means India becomes a member of the privy group of countries along with US, Russia, France, UK, Germany and China.

Defense experts believe that China is also busy developing its first fully indigenous version of the nuclear powered submarine, which is expected to be completed soon as well. The current one’s being used is not fully nuclear powered, like Type 091 (Han) and Type 092 (Xia).

Other Strategic Naval Procurements

India has a history of aggressive neighbors especially with China it has a long history of border related tension, dating back to a 1962 border war. India wishes to be prepared for surprises, which is one of the key lessons learnt from the 1962 war, where the country’s ego was badly bruised due to unpreparedness and lack of armory. Currently India is the one of the world's largest arms importer with plans to spend $100 billion on weapons between 2011 and 2015.

In 2013, the Indian Navy is set to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Long range bombers Tu-142s with Boeing P8I aircrafts with high-end anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

Fig 3 (New P8Is which are going to replace

TU 142s Long Range Reconnaissance/Bomber)

India also has struck a deal with Russia of value $30 billion (Rs 1,50,000 crores) for the joint development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft, which is likely to change the face of Indian military.

India is also expected to take the delivery of the Soviet-built aircraft carrier in 2013 INS .

Recently India has undertaken a 10 year lease from Russia, a K-152 Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine. This is a Akula II class submarine, which was put into service as the INS Chakra. The submarine’s displacement is 8,140/12,770 tons. Its maximum speed is 30 knots, maximum operating depth, 600 m; its endurance is 100 days with a crew of 73. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes.

[ To be continued ]

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