PETE COMMENT
Under the "Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters" competition India is shopping for follow-on naval fighters. India started receiving Russian MiG-29K carrier fighters from 2010, but India has become unhappy with defects in these MiGs and difficulty sourcing spare parts. Indian industry is also trying to convince the Indian Navy to buy 50+ navalised indigenously developed Tejas fighters. But, reading between the lines, the Indian Navy is cautious over the suitability of Tejas in a carrier role - in terms of ramp launch aerodynamics, heavy weight and arrested landing ruggedness.
Purchase of F/A-18Es, West European or post MiG Russian Su fighters, can be seen as replacements (by 2028?) for the MiG-29Ks and probably also the Tejas navalised fighters.
India is world renowned as a determined haggler particularly where jet buys are concerned. If the Rafale deal for India's Air Force is anything to go by, a 7 year delay and Indian pressure to have the winning aircraft license built in Indian factories, is entirely possible. To further complicate matters the Indian Navy "Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters" acquisition process may have merged. This may be with the Indian Air Force "MMRCA 2.0" process for 114 Air Force multi-role combat aircraft. For your average Western arms dealer, negotiating India's technocratic, multi-dimensional, acquisition system is more difficult than learning Vedic Sanskrit while piloting a pogo stick. Good Luck unsuspecting sellers :)
ARTICLE
The Aviationist ably reports December 15, 2020 in part:
"An F/A-18E Super Hornet completed the launch from a ski jump ramp during
a demo at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Here’s the first image.
Although the demonstration was carried out in August [2020],
and the news was out since then, the first photo
of an F/A-18E Super Hornet completing a ski jump launch at NAS Patuxent River,
MD, has just been released.
The take off from the ramp at Patuxent River was conducted as part of a demo
arranged for the Indian Navy, which has been in talks for the potential
acquisition of Super Hornets for its STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested
Recovery) aircraft carriers, such as the INS Vikramaditya and the under-construction INS
Vikrant.
...Interestingly this wasn’t the first time a Hornet carried out ski
jump take offs. [US] Air Force Systems Command, dated 1991, says that between 1982 and 1986 “a
metal ramp was constructed that could be modified to give ramp exit angles of
3, 6, and 9 degrees. The ramp was 112.1 feet long and 8.58 feet high at ‘he
exit when configured for the 9 degree exit angle, measured from the
horizontal...The minimum ground roll for the F/A-18 was 385 feet at a gross
weight of 32,800 lbs. This ramp effectively reduced the takeoff roll of the
F-18 by more than 50 percent..."
SEE THE WHOLE EXCELLENT AVIATIONIST REPORT
An F/A-18 Super Hornet completes a ski jump launch
demo for the first time on Aug. 13, 2020 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. (Photo courtesy US Navy photo by Eric Hildebrandt via The Aviationist.)
---
22 comments:
Pete I will disagree broadly with the conclusion it will take time...the bureaucratic red tape is certainly a problem..however,
This government is most likely to go for 36 naval fighter jets via the G to G FMS route. It may be the F-18E/F or the Rafale M.
Rafale has the advantage of commonality and is being assembled in India already. The F-18 if given with the APG-79 or APG-81 AESA radar and US BVRAAMs, it will make for a formidable package too..however recent F-18 issues in Canada and Australia might lead to bit more caution in the short run....
Also there have been talks about the IN acquiring E-2Ds initially operating from the shore and shifting them to INS Vishal once the catapult capable carrier becomes available in the mid-2030s.
So F-18s, later some F-35Bs, more MH-60Rs and some E-2Ds are not impossible to visualize in the FMS pipeline. While I should not wish for the UK to suffer post-brexit, it is likely and if so, I do hope the Prince of Wales is leased off for a decade or so...
Hi GhalibKabir
@ December 16, 2020 at 6:58 PM
Yes, much time and “red tape” procedural matters for India's Rafale buy. This is also seen in Australia’s future Attack-class submarine home build – which will take even longer from picking the winner to launch of the first sub.
Assuming we are talking the same thing – the F/A-18E Super Hornet not the F-18 “classic” Hornet...
As India is already building Rafale’s for its air force it makes sense to also build Rafales for the navy. I’m also assuming the Rafale, much lighter than the F/A-18E and with greater power to weight can launch off a ramp with a greater Proportional/Percentage fuel+war load than the F/A.
But there is also India’s effort to strengthen the Quad (main member being the US) to consider in India’s arms supplier choices. I would also not be surprised if some see new “commissions” in picking a fighter from a new US vendor.
Many of the aircraft considerations would have changed (E-2Ds and all) by the time catapult capable carrier “INS Vishal” becomes available in the mid-2030s.
Britain’s Brexit and the need for Queen Liz UK carrier voyages into the Pacific (to back up the Type 26 for Australia and Canada deals) may suggest the UK will maintain the Prince of Wales as operational.
With India buying the S-400 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-400_missile_system#India won’t the US block sale of any type of F-35 to India?
Pete
Any sales of the F-18 Super Hornet will be through FMS route where G2G facilitation charges of 3.5-5% tacked on already by US DoD. No 'commissions' will be forthcoming there...
The rafale on the other hand is a veritable bomb truck..ideally Naval version of EA-18G for ECCM amd the rafale-M for regular carrier ops would be perfect combo...may be 3 squadrons or 54 rafales and one 18 jet squadron of EA-18G to ensure 12-18 rafales and 6 EA-18Gs are available in a given CBG at any point of time...
For the Prince of Wales, let us see how Brexit unfolds...and BAEe might yet make headway by being able license-co-produce the third carrier with Indian shipyards...
On S-400, well, some uncomfortable moments are inevitable and probably will rule out F-35 sales for a while...It will also be interesting to see how low cost, numerically large UAV and UUV fleets are handled in terms of arming strategy....
Hi GhalibKabir
@ January 5, 2021 at 7:53 PM
Like the F-35 I don’t think the US will share the EA-18G Growler with India anytime soon. As you say India’s S-400 (already delivered to India? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-400_missile_system#India ) purchase is "uncomfortable".
Also too many low-profile Russian advisors in India’s military complex and Indian connections with Russian miltech types (even if such types reside in Russia) would be taken into account by the US.
With Rafales already in India’s Air Force https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Rafale#India it makes sense to have Rafales on India’s carriers.
Looks like carrier “Prince of Wales” is firmly in the RN, noting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(R09)
“The ship was initially planned to be either sold or mothballed due to budget cuts, but the government later decided to bring it into active service...The ship was formally commissioned into the Royal Navy at a ceremony in Portsmouth on 10 December 2019.”
The RN would have an even more ineffective carrier force (given the Rule of Thirds) if it only had one (QE).
Yes, producing a third QE-class for India may be a Brexit speeded revenue earner for Britain.
Pete
S-400s have not been delivered to India. Down payment of a nearly billion dollars has already been made...One unit should arrive this year..followed by 4 more in due course...
I think the US might threaten sanctions but actual bite might be not severe due to geopolitical exigencies. Given the democratic trifecta...some yapping is inevitable, though I assume trump's 5 year continual antics culminating in the Jan.6 failed putsch serves as a painful reminder for Biden and co. to not indulge in customary pontificating...
The RN neither has the manpower nor the air wing strength needed to operate a 2 aircraft carrier fleet...that said, one hopes BAe does get roped in to make a bigger IN carrier... either way the UK's armed forces are on a slow, soon to be possibly irreversible path of decline. Even if Brexit's impacts are weathered, the geopolitical scenario might not allow for UK's sustained position in the UNSC by 2040-2045 possibly...
Rafales make sense on carriers but US sensors are very valuable especially ECCM ones....no way the US will allow integration of ALQ-99 or ALQ-218s on a Rafale...though I think 2 - 3 squadrons of EA-18s split between IAF and IN would do a lot of good...
In the UUV era, a chess game like wholesome sensor suite on land, sir and under water is needed else large surface vessels are going to be sitting ducks not to mention n-subs..the Chinese seem quite ahead in terms of actual deployment as of today..
PS: Another interesting thought is BAe could also manufacture SSNs for India leaving the reactor empty, leaving India to load the fuel as it sees fit...wouldn't violate the NPT, NSG rules and might bring in the moolah for the beleaguered chaps at Barrow in Furness.
Hi GhalibKabir
@ January 7, 2021 at 8:33 PM
Yes Chinese sensors eg. mass UUVs will constitute not only threats to Western/Indian subs but also surface ships (from tankers to corvettes to carriers).
The captured Dec 20, 2020 Selyar Island (Indonesia) Chinese UUV is not the only one. I’ve identified this useful link on FURTHER SIGHTINGS OF CHINESE UUVS at https://www.thetrumpet.com/23402-australia-china-is-coming of Jan 7 2021: “A similar [Chinese UUV] was captured in March 2019 near the Riau Islands. Another turned up at the start of 2020 near the Surabaya Naval Base. A glance at the map [at https://s.kaskus.id/images/2021/01/04/2551049_20210104030158.jpeg ] indicates the extremely critical sea lanes (to Australia) China is surveying.”
Here’s hoping China’s knowledge of the S-400s Russia has exported to China doesn’t give China the countermeasures knowledge to penetrate India’s owns S-400 defences http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-400_missile_system#China
Yes since Jan 6 Trump’s Insurrection Biden has much to do (post Jan 20 Inauguration) to rebuild America’s international credibility. Naturally Biden needs to restore healthy (Trump diminished) alliances.
Poor RN’s declining state of health. Blowing so much gold on 2 carriers may come back to haunt it in terms of budget and crew shortages for other RN vessels. Hoping Brexit has a bright side with Britain seeking better trade and alliance relationships with India AND Australia.
The UK getting ahead of Russian and French assistance to India to build SSNs may indeed be viable. After all Naval Group’s (theoretical sub-with-no-reactor assistance) to Brazil’s SSN ("SN-BR") project doesn’t seem to have triggered proliferation obstacles. See https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2015/03/brazil-new-submarine-prosub-program.html .
Pete
S-400s are more for the pakistani border. India is also aware of china's extensive reverse engineering capacity and hence is slowly creating a three layer integrated SAM network made up of SR-SAM: QRSAM/Barak-1, MRSAM: Barak-8 incl. Derby ER, LRSAM: Ashwin AAD/PAD plus S-300/S-400...So the S-300/400s are one component of the network.
On the UK giving SN-BR type assistance, yes that would be helpful indeed...though looks unlikely to occur soon...In fact the best thing would be to get the first SSN made in Barrow in Furness while co-producing the rest under BAe-Private Indian player partnership in India with the Tatas or Reliance.
The Quad should consider ideally a single joint UUV program to beef up numbers against china..a single UUV program that combines unarmed and armed versions of the UUV (armed version being a kind of Harop UCAV's underwater cousin, UCUV)...
plus another thing is the potential resort to mass scale EW from space, ground and air by china, the quad will need coordination on that front too..
Hi GhalibKabir
@January 11, 2021 at 7:57 PM
So it is INDIA not China that "is slowly creating a three layer integrated SAM network made up of SR-SAM: QRSAM/Barak-1, MRSAM: Barak-8 incl. Derby ER, LRSAM: Ashwin AAD/PAD plus S-300/S-400...So the S-300/400s are one component of the network."
I think the UK would be constrained by US SSN and reactor ToT rules from passing on technology to India. A whole SSN built for India in the UK would be even less likely due to same US ToT and also resistance from Indian industry and India's non-aligned tradition.
"Tatas"? "Reliance"?
The US would be highest tech best placed to build UUVs for the Quad just as the US built Indo-Pacific SOSUS and is sharing SOSUS network results with the Quad.
Pete
China already has extensive SAM networks, India is playing catch up.
US opposition to SSN for India: likely.
Objection from Indian side - nope...those NAM days are long gone...old tosh...
Tatas already work in JVs with Boeing, Lockheed while Mahindra works with Telephonics etc...why not? already these players and other like Walchandnagar Industries play a huge role in the now under trials INS Vikrant and INS Arighat...not to mention a new 30 tonne light tank for use in Ladakh.
PS: https://www.google.co.jp/maps/search/visakhapatnam+port/@17.7109147,83.2679438,186m/data=!3m1!1e3
See both SSBNs of the IN together at Vishakhapatnam port
Hi GhalibKabir
@ January 14, 2021 at 7:03 PM
As China’s defence force expands, fed by a catch-up in nominal GDP to the US level by 2030, I think the US will indeed enter into more joint ventures with India. The US will be willing to trade more high tech into India.
This won’t wholly be the US being a nice ally, but a means of drawing more of Chinese military power that was focused on the Pacific to refocus onto India in central-south Asia.
One complication will be the post Putin-Trump friendship, resumption of poor US relations with Russia – in all theatres. If India appears too close to Russia in miltech the US will trust India less.
Thanks for https://www.google.co.jp/maps/search/visakhapatnam+port/@17.7109147,83.2679438,186m/data=!3m1!1e3 showing 2 Arihant class SSBNs? or are they Kalvari class? SSKs. This is given there are no smaller subs for comparison AND the large shed/covering below them might obscure SSBNs (especially for SLBM loading operations)?
Regards
Pete
Pete@January 15, 2021 at 11:02 PM
Those are both SSBNs, the IN has no SSK that is longer than 75 m. The Arihant class baby boomers are at least 110 m long. Most SSKs are based on the west coast in Mumbai and Karwar with a few Kilo/Sindhughosh class based out of Vishakhapatnam. The Scorpenes and type-209s are all west coast based...
India will not burn bridges with Russia as Russia is even more important given the apparently slow but irreversible nature of decline in the US in terms of both military power and mental abilities.
The US might give India some military goods and allow 'assembling' in India, forget actual ToT, they won't and no one is wasting their breath, or is under delusions in India on that count. Modi and his staid but able Defense minister Rajnath Singh, both get it amply (despite inevitable bungles and missteps, overall trend is set well now)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/01/19/indian-army-shows-off-drone-swarm-of-mass-destruction/?sh=2047c97a2384
Like the one above, India will continue using a mish-mash of 'Eastern' and 'Western' systems, with US systems having a slow and steady rising share..where the US won't sell, Israel or other EU nations might get tapped...like the use of Israeli loitering munitions, Israeli AWACS radar on an IL-76 etc...ditto in the navy...in fact a tight embrace of the US might not be the best thing to be doing now...
Hi GhalibKabir
Your January 25, 2021 at 12:22 AM
Thanks for demonstrating that the 2 subs in the satellite photo were Arihant-class SSBNs 110m long (or just one of them may be INS Chakra “II” 108m – 111.7m long https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Nerpa_(K-152) ).
Yes its in India’s interests not to dump the 70 year relationship with Russia. I see the Soviets/Russ provided Foxtrot subs to India as early as 1967 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxtrot-class_submarine#Operators
The US under Biden might be more legalistic/human rights/India-too-close-to-Russia orientated which may delay some US arms provision to India.
I imagine Israel (an early kamikaze drone expert) may have given India a hand with drone swarm efforts https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/01/19/indian-army-shows-off-drone-swarm-of-mass-destruction/?sh=2047c97a2384
Yeah, India’s non-aligned “mish-mash” weapons sourcing may be the best strategy.
Regards
Pete
Pete@January 26, 2021 at 4:04 PM
That is not the Chakra SSN, both are SSBNs, Chakra/Akula SSN is very distinct and at 10 m resolution,it is pretty certain both are Arihant Class SSBN.
Yes, the Soviets did step in to help a lot from the 60s onwards. It peaked when Soviet SSNs tracked the seventh fleet when Nixon bullied India during the Bangladesh Independence war in 12/1971.
Biden's administration might not attempt 'lectures' on human rights in the near future, given the still stinging transgressions of the trump admin., though I do expect some of the more clueless/gormless lot to start their shrill yapping sometime next year...pulling out their favorite "but these radical extremists are actually fluffy little bunnies" trope.
(PS: look at the 'farmers' protest in India, pseudoliberals were busy till yesterday morning convincing the Supreme Court and the country of how peaceful it was till a relgious flag was hoisted on the ramparts of the red fort in Delhi..they are still busy offering excuses for vidoes of 'farmers' trying to run over policemen near central Delhi.)
Israeli help is probably true as India operates a number of the Harpy UCAVs (the same ones used by Azerbaijan to screw Armenia)
The US is not unlike an occasionally generous but very schizophrenic uncle who is still struggling to get his med levels right and is prone to regular episodes of insanity...best to keep 'him' 'friendly' but at a distance...and ensure to never trust/rely too much..
Hi GhalibKabir
Your January 27, 2021 at 1:53 PM
OK 2 Arihant Class SSBNs it is. Would be interested when INS Chakra “II” pulls into port :)
Very interesting that Sov SSNs tracked the US Seventh Fleet when Nixon bullied India during the Bangladesh Independence war in 12/1971.
This is cooborated by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Liberation_War#US_and_USSR
“The US government stood by its old ally Pakistan in terms of diplomacy and military threats. [Nixon] and [Kissinger] feared Soviet expansion [southwards]... Pakistan was a close ally of the PRC with whom Nixon had been negotiating a rapprochement and which Nixon intended to visit in February 1972. ...
...To demonstrate to China the bona fides of the US as an ally, and in direct violation of the US Congress-imposed sanctions on Pakistan, Nixon sent military supplies to Pakistan and routed them through Jordan and Iran. [much more]”
Nixon sent the USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal,a move deemed by the Indians as a nuclear threat. Enterprise arrived on station on 11 December 1971. On 6 and 13 December, the SOVIET NAVY dispatched two groups of ships, armed with nuclear missiles, from Vladivostok; they trailed US Task Force 74 in the Indian Ocean from 18 December until 7 January 1972”
After Trump’s Cold War with China Biden may want to mend fences with China (and China’s client Pak) at India’s expense.
Those farmers with their speeding tractors presented an oddly effective threat.
Are yes. I see Israel has sold Harpys “to several foreign nations, including South Korea, Turkey, India, and China.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Harpy
Yeah the US has many agendas distorting its foreign/defense policy decision-making. Eeven including $multi-Billion weapons factories in particular Congressional districts. eg. What’s good for LockMart may decide whether or not the US Gov sends F-35As and/or Bs to India.
Pete
Pete@January 28, 2021 at 4:44 PM
Biden mending fences with China is quite unlikely. This has gone beyond R and D factional politics in the US. Now, China is strong enough that it won't back down at any cost. Biden has been friendly to pakistan in the past, but 2009 was a different time and given continued pakistani mendacity via promoting recent killings in Afghanistan, he might not have the leeway to be benign either. In any case, China has largely taken over in pakistan.
Also, if he wants to sell F-15EX and F-18Fs to India, then he will need to be more practical and ensure the pipsqueaks in the democratic party are kept quiet...no one in India will be remotely receptive to hypocritical preaching from US.
The farmers did an act of spectacular harakiri, by trying to run their tractors over policemen and by vandalizing the flag post area in the Red Fort, they are now being rightly questioned and local support for the protests has almost vanished. Video evidence of sikh separatist elements shouting Bhindranwale era slogans have soiled this campaign beyond redemption. (Bhindranwale's shooting directly led to Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blue_Star)
PS: a lot of hypocritical pseudoliberal journos are in hot water in India after falsely accusing Delhi police of shooting a farmer when in reality, his postmortem clearly showed death from crushing when the tractor overturned.
PPS: I think India is also adding Harpy mini-loitering munitions that are usable as swarms.
Hi GhalibKabir
Your January 29, 2021 at 1:43 PM
I suspect Biden will aim at toning down Trump’s Trade War against China.
Meanwhile Biden will remain tough on China strategically (in terms of FONOPs and a positive renewal of US alliances with SK, Japan and SEA nations). Biden does not want to be accused of being weak strategically.
I think Biden will promote trade and better Quad relations with India over any closeness with Pakistan.
Interestingly Biden Admin may be floating an “Asian NATO” Quad-on-steroids concept with possible interest from the UK and maybe even SK – see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrilateral_Security_Dialogue#%22Asian_NATO%22
Yes the profit motive (factories in US States/Congressional districts) selling advanced jets to India may well conquer any (US Democratic left) world policemen of nice-righteousness leanings.
On farmers shenanigans I did a bit of research on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarnail_Singh_Bhindranwale Any Hindu-Sikh animosities would weaken India and Modi.
Mini-loitering swarms have so many future applications for even more military uses and even non-lethal crowd control.
Regards
Pete
Unless Biden can put advanced EW suites, drones, radars, SIGINT support etc. on the table, in a way that tangibly strains china, he or the 'Quad' will get nowehere...
The farmers shenanigans is less about Hindu-Sikh animosities and more about a rabid, 'in disarray' opposition trying to desperately find a 'wedge' at all costs...
the farmers bills (on which all political party manifestos agree) are providing them a low cost opportunity to set fire...unfortunately the farmers overplayed their hands and now things are at an impasse..the casualty in this includes one Justin Trudeau of Canada who relies on an partly extremist Sikh base...his ham-fisted comments have ensured between Imran Khan, Xi and himself, Modi is likely to place Trudeau third in line for a meeting... quite an achievement it is..pariah or persona non grata par excellence...
Hopefully India should be starting to make another 6 SSKs soon...
Hi GhalibKabir
[your February 2, 2021 at 2:28 PM]
I imagine Uncle could provide/sell fellow Quads much SIGINT and SOSUS infrastructure, with attendant, software, networking, support and coordination. But this would mainly exist “under the radar” – so to speak.
Never would have guessed Canada’s chick-magnet Trudeau could have stirred up subcontinental sectarian agrarian ruffles. What you say is confirmed at https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3112312/canadas-trudeau-wades-indian-farmers-protests-sparking Dec 2 2020:
“Canada’s Justin Trudeau wades in on India farmers’ protests, sparking accusations of meddling
• Indian authorities last week used tear gas on peaceful protesters rallying against new agriculture laws, in a move Trudeau called ‘concerning’
• While some have praised the PM’s remarks, others accuse him of ‘pandering’ to Sikh-Canadian voters and supporters of the Khalistani separatist movement”
Interested when there are any tangible signs of Chakra II – Barracuda Hybrid? SSNs being built.
Cheers
Pete
Pete@February 3, 2021 at 5:55 PM
pretty boy trudeau was playing to the domestic electoral gallery blissfully ignoring the fact that canada was already in trouble with China and could scarcely afford to offend India as well.. but from his disastrous 'tour' of India in 2018 (incl. inviting a convicted terrorist of Khalistani origin to the canadian high commission party in Delhi, knowing well the felon was convicted of an assassination plot on a serving Indian minister)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-india-atwal-controversy-1.4546502
Modi snubbed him for 7 days before meeting him on the 8th day reducing the canadian PM and his family to being glorified tourists...a brighter bulb would have gotten the message when Modi deliberately sent a junior agriculture minister to receive trudeau as an obvious display of anger via reduced welcome protocols...
of the many things you can attribute to the canadian PM, you can never accuse him of being astute. he should qualify for 'bungler of the year' award.. Scotty is a genius in comparison..
The INS Chakra II will be another Akula class that is being readied even as we speak... the domestic SSN is still in an advanced design phase with construction starting likely in another 18-24 months or may be a bit later...
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indias-rs-1-2-l-cr-n-submarine-project-closer-to-realisation/articleshow/74234776.cms?from=mdr
Hi GhalibKabir
Your February 3, 2021 at 8:48 PM
Looks like Justin Trudeau needs to rely on more than A. his Hollywood looks and B. his family name https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Trudeau to make sensitive political decisions.
Modi has every right to be annoyed.
Oh by “INS Chakra II” I meant the ex-Nerpa Akula https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Nerpa_(K-152)
With Chakra “I” being notionally the ex- K-43 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_submarine_K-43 Charlie-class INS Chakra leased to India from 1987 for 4 years.
So by my (and India’s) confusing system the Russians are rehabilitating one of their Akulas to be “Chakra III ” https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-russia-to-ink-3-billion-nuclear-submarine-deal-this-week/articleshow/68248638.cms
Thanks for the future indigenous SSN build info and links.
Meanwhile. Here’s a good one https://youtu.be/A9_ADboCFLk I never knew Arighat was That Typhoon BIG :) Commentary is better than the visuals
- That Youtube gets more accurate info on India’s future SSNs (“6,000 tons”) after 1 minute 28 seconds. and after that on SLBM targeting issues into China.
Regards
Pete
Sorry it should have been the Chakra III (Most likely the ex-Kashalot...or could be Iribis... not really sure)
yes, trudeau acted like a drongo, one time too many... sadly now the farmers protest has gone into a total political fist fight as the leftist leaning opposition of all shades think this is their breakout chance to break Modi's hold on India's electorate....
many people are riled that people like rihanna or thunberg who cannot find punjab on a map of the world are feeding the fires by even going to the extent of sharing 'manuals' on how to create tweet storm and corner the government while giving a hail mary pass to the farmers who indulged in arson and violence on india's republic day...
This year's defense budget has not focused much on SSKs though it is likely DCNS might get another 6 subs...
Hi GhalibKabir
Your February 4, 2021 at 9:26 PM
Looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akula-class_submarine#Units
- Yes Kashalot is being considered for India though its already old, commissioned 30/12/1988
- Iribis also being considered for India. But with different problems-uncertainty:
"Construction halted at 42% in 1996..."
Re farmers riots. Foreign knowledge of Indian affairs (unlike US or UK) is minimal (I know little of domestic Indian politics). So foreign activists are sure to get major issues wrong.
- Makes sense that 6 Scorpenes of Project 75 should be followed by 6 more Scorpenes for Project 75i. A minus is that Naval Group (was DCNS) has little demonstrated 2nd/3rd Generation AIP maturity but there is potential for Naval Group Barracuda SSN ToT going to India.
Regards
Pete
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