3 New SSNs for Indian Navy. Russian Reactors: French Hulls?

India’s Firstpost March 17, 2023 reports, in part: 

"...According to media reports, the Indian Navy may receive approval to purchase only three nuclear submarines during the initial stage [instead of presumably 6 x Project-75 Alpha SSNs]. The original plan, which envisaged the procurement of six submarines in the initial lot has been scrapped by the defence ministry due to high procurement costs.

…It was decided in 2019 that only three submarines will be developed as part of Project-“77” [presumably meant to be Project-75 Alpha] …following the initial investment of Rs 100 crores [equivalent to only US$12 million ?] for research and development, for the program did not receive any more funds and the project still awaits clearance.

Meanwhile, France has offered a major nuclear submarine deal to India. As part of the deal, France will become a part of the Indian Navy’s program to develop 6 nuclear submarines and has also offered to share conventional technology from its Barracuda-class nuclear submarine program.”

[Earlier reported by Firstpost on March 16, 2023:

“New Delhi: The Indian Navy, which is undergoing a modernisation process, may get yet another boost as France has offered a major nuclear submarine deal to India.

As part of the deal, France will become a part of India’s program to develop 6 nuclear submarines and has also offered to share conventional technology fromits Barracuda-class nuclear submarine program… France’s offer to India is similar to a deal it had offered to Brazil earlier, which is also developing its first nuclear submarine with French assistance.

The French offer to India includes the overhauled design based on its Barracuda-class submarine for a new submarine class. This new submarine will feature pump-jet propulsion along with a [ presumably the Indian Compact Light-Water Reactor “CLWR-B2 "gentle running" for S5 SSBN and "more stop-start" B3 for Project-75 Alpha SSN ?” variant of the 190 MW thermal(t), 30 to 35 MW electrical(e) Russian OK-650 ] 190 MWt Pressurized water reactor which is currently being developed by state-owned nuclear company BARC in consultation with Russian state-owned companies.”]

Firstpost’s March 17, 2023 report continues:

“…Work on designing an indigenous nuclear submarine design by the Directorate of Naval Design also is going on at the Indian Navy’s Shipbuilding Centre at Visakhapatnam.

[A] report by Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW) quoted officials as saying that there were disagreements [presumably between the Indian Navy versus BARC ? ] regarding who will fund the development of a new 190MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

The water reactors will be used to power the Indian Navy’s [SSN] nuclear submarine program and variant of the same reactor was to be developed for the S5 Class of ballistic missile submarines. [SSBNs]”.

PETE COMMENT

India's close reliance on Russia in nuclear submarine matters (including INS Chakra II /Nerpa lease 2012-2022) has raised expectations that India's Project-75 Alpha will be based on Russia's Akula-class SSN. 

On March 7, 2019, India and Russia signed a US$3 billion deal for lease of another Akula-class SSN. The submarine, dubbed "Chakra III" (possibly Russian submarine Irbis or Iribis K-519) might be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2025. 

Earlier INS Chakra II lease permitted Indian submariners and designers to closely study Russian Akula-class SSNs. Chakra III will deepen India's knowledge and experience of this class. 

Russia has developed an Akula III which is reportedly larger and quieter than other Akulas. The Akula III has likely adopted some advanced features of the follow-on Yasen-class SSN. Possibly India will base its Project-75 Alphas on the Akula III standard.

Presumably India is inviting France to offer some Barracuda SSN hull information and the Barracuda's pump-jet technology to improve India's future SSN and S5 SSBNs. India may also aim to create competition rather than totally rely on Russia in terms of direct foreign technology transfer. The Russian Borei/Borey-class SSBN also has pump-jet technology.

But if Russia is assisting with the CLWR-B2 (and maybe a "B3") reactor then Russia is firmly embedded in Indian nuclear submarine construction. So embedded that any French technology transfer can be expected to be soaked up by Russian advisors (with GRU links) in India or via Indian agents working for Russia (all the way back to 1991). 

In any case India attempting to integrate a variant or development of a Russian
OK-650 reactor with a French Barracuda hull and pump-jet, would be technically very difficult and expensive. Perhaps, then, an Indian variant of the Akula III, with a CLWR-B3 reactor, working to a Russian-French hybrid pump-jet, is possible.