Sindhurakshak sinking a set-back for the Navy

NEW DELHI: Already facing a depleting strength of underwater vessels, the loss of one of its youngest and most capable submarines--INS Sindhurakshak, is a big setback for the Navy.

In view of the lessening operational capabilities of the existing submarine fleet and delays in getting their replacements, the Navy has made some changes in the deployment routines to prolong their life.

The Sindhurakshak and other four vessels upgraded in Russia, were supposed to play a major role in such a scenario but with this mishap, new plans will have to be chalked out to maintain the operational preparedness, senior Naval officers said.

The Navy has now a fleet of 14 submarines including nine Russian Kilo Class submarines, four German HDWs and one nuclear submarine INS Chakra leased to it by Russia last year.

The Sindhurakshak submarine was set to sail for its new mission in the next few days and was fully armed with its torpedos and anti-ship missiles in the naval dockyards in Mumbai at the time of the incident.

Under the around Rs 450 crore upgrades in Russian shipyards from 2010 to 2013, its structure and hull were refurbished and several other systems including its weaponry and target engagement capabilities were enhanced.

The submarine, procured at a cost of around Rs.400 crore, was one of the ten such vessels ordered by India from Russia in the early 1980s and the Sindhurakshak was the second-last of the lot and delivered in 1997 and was followed by the INS Sindhuratna.

At the time of mishap, the Sindhuratna was standing next to the Sindhurakshak in the berthing harbour. The first submarine of the series was INS Sindhughosh which was inducted in the force in 1986 and is believed to be nearing the end of its operational life.

The force is expected to get a new submarine by 2016 when the first of the six Scorpene submarines being built at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai in collaboration with French firm DCNS would be delivered to the force. Ttotal project cost is estimated at about Rs.25,000 crore.

The Defence Ministry has also moved a proposal for the induction of six more submarines under the Project-75 India for boosting the capabilities of the force. Three indigenous nuclear submarines are also planned to be built for the Navy in the near future with the reactor of the first one-- INS Arihant, getting critical last week.

India has also plans of procuring two Deep Submarine Rescue Vessel (DSRV) to help in rescuing submariners in case of a mishap in deep sea areas.

DSRVs can rescue 24 sailors at a time after coupling with the hatch of the stricken submarine as they are equipped with pressurised chambers, sonars, cameras and other hi-tech facilities.

But the programme has been long-delayed and India has signed an agreement with the US Navy submarine rescue programme under which the Americans provide their vessels for such emergencies with response time of up to 72 hours.