Arihant-class SSBN - News & Discussions

I remember the talks where they were planning to leap frog from 2nd gen to 4th gen reactors.....was it for S5 or SSN?

Can't say. Logic says they will use a Gen III/III+ for S5 and then Gen IV for SSN. Or they will stick with the safer and proven options, Gen II for S5 and Gen III/III+ for SSN. Who knows?
 
How are nuke reactor generations divided ? Which gen is the 83 MW plant we use today ?

Gen I were just research reactors and for bomb making. Very unsafe.

Gen II came with emphasis on safety. Passive safety systems were introduced. Arihant's reactor is here.

Gen III came with a lot more safety, long life, ability to use recycled fuel, resistance to terrorist attacks etc.

Gen IV use more exotic fuel cycles and fuels. Our FBR qualifies as Gen IV. These type of reactors are extremely safe to use.

Our upcoming AHWR is even more advanced. 100-year life, fuel can be reused multiple times, waste products are not highly radioactive etc. You can even build it inside a city. It qualifies as Gen V, or at least as a bridge to Gen V, which are more advanced thorium reactors.
 
INS Arighat has completed sea trials and will be officially commissioned next year.
INS Arighat is 12-13k tons in displacement. Carries 8 nos. K-4 missiles.
All of the subs will be in service by 2023. L&T made the hull/shell of the Arihant class.

 
INS Arighat has completed sea trials and will be officially commissioned next year.
INS Arighat is 12-13k tons in displacement. Carries 8 nos. K-4 missiles.
All of the subs will be in service by 2023. L&T made the hull/shell of the Arihant class.

If Arighat is twice the weight of the Arihant, what's the capacity of the N reactor powering it?
 
If Arighat is twice the weight of the Arihant, what's the capacity of the N reactor powering it?
The powerplant is never talked about, not even a whisper of it in public knowledge. If I was guessing, I would say almost twice that of the INS Arihant's 83 MW reactor. As a precautionary measure Arihan't's reactor is limited to a lesser power than it is capable, this is probably a good idea given its our first sea based reactor. To propel a sub twice as heavy at the same cruise speeds as the Arihant, the power needs to double as well.

Long back I remember reading about BARC using the INS Chakra's 193 MW reactor as a base to build on future reactors for our sub fleet. Two different kinds of reactors were studied, one with a higher power rating allowing the subs to sprint underwater(for SSNs) another for towing heavy loads at constant low/medium velocities(for SSBNs). That's all I know, whether these studies went to project stage is not known in public.
 
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The powerplant is never talked about, not even a whisper of it in public knowledge. If I was guessing, I would say almost twice that of the INS Arihant's 83 MW reactor. As a precautionary measure Arihan't's reactor is limited to a lesser power than it is capable, this is probably a good idea given its our first sea based reactor. To propel a sub twice as heavy at the same cruise speeds as the Arihant, the power needs to double as well.

Long back I remember reading about BARC using the INS Chakra's 193 MW reactor as a base to build on future reactors for our sub fleet. Two different kinds of reactors were studied, one with a higher power rating allowing the subs to sprint underwater(for SSNs) another for towing heavy loads at constant low/medium velocities(for SSBNs). That's all I know, whether these studies went to project stage is not known in public.
But Arighat is said to be a 4-silo based SSBN similar to Arihant with similar tonnage.
We will never know what exactly goes on woth our secretive nuclear sub project.
If Arighat is twice the weight of the Arihant, what's the capacity of the N reactor powering it?
Will the Arighat be armed with K-4 missiles or K-15??
 
The powerplant is never talked about, not even a whisper of it in public knowledge. If I was guessing, I would say almost twice that of the INS Arihant's 83 MW reactor. As a precautionary measure Arihan't's reactor is limited to a lesser power than it is capable, this is probably a good idea given its our first sea based reactor. To propel a sub twice as heavy at the same cruise speeds as the Arihant, the power needs to double as well.

Long back I remember reading about BARC using the INS Chakra's 193 MW reactor as a base to build on future reactors for our sub fleet. Two different kinds of reactors were studied, one with a higher power rating allowing the subs to sprint underwater(for SSNs) another for towing heavy loads at constant low/medium velocities(for SSBNs). That's all I know, whether these studies went to project stage is not known in public.
I don't think so. One of the reasons, the IAC - 2 isn't equipped with N propulsion is coz we don't have the reactor ready. I'm guessing this reactor would be common to both the S-5 class of submarines as well as the IAC -3(?) ( in multiples) which in turn brings me to what's the capacity of the N reactor for the SSN's going to be. I believe work on these SSNs have already commenced. Any idea? @vstol Jockey
 
I don't think so. One of the reasons, the IAC - 2 isn't equipped with N propulsion is coz we don't have the reactor ready. I'm guessing this reactor would be common to both the S-5 class of submarines as well as the IAC -3(?) ( in multiples) which in turn brings me to what's the capacity of the N reactor for the SSN's going to be. I believe work on these SSNs have already commenced. Any idea? @vstol Jockey
I don't think so. One of the reasons, the IAC - 2 isn't equipped with N propulsion is coz we don't have the reactor ready. I'm guessing this reactor would be common to both the S-5 class of submarines as well as the IAC -3(?) ( in multiples) which in turn brings me to what's the capacity of the N reactor for the SSN's going to be. I believe work on these SSNs have already commenced. Any idea? @vstol Jockey
IAC-2 can use two of these reactors. All boats of Arihant series will use same reactor and will be 8K tons. But the bigger boats will need a bigger reactor which is under testing.
 
IAC-2 can use two of these reactors. All boats of Arihant series will use same reactor and will be 8K tons. But the bigger boats will need a bigger reactor which is under testing.
Are you suggesting that the SSNs will use the same reactors as the Arihant class? I thought they should be more towards 120 - 140 MW ( If I'm not mistaken, these figures were quoted in PKS's blog) . Further what's the capacity of the N reactors powering the S-5 class going to be? If as you say it's in the process of being tested, when does one expect a fully certified shore based reactor like S-1?
 
I don't think so. One of the reasons, the IAC - 2 isn't equipped with N propulsion is coz we don't have the reactor ready. I'm guessing this reactor would be common to both the S-5 class of submarines as well as the IAC -3(?) ( in multiples) which in turn brings me to what's the capacity of the N reactor for the SSN's going to be. I believe work on these SSNs have already commenced. Any idea? @vstol Jockey
I think it was Admiral R. K. Dhowan who once said in an interview that the requirements, design and testing of reactors for surface and sub surface fleet are very different. Surface boats can use multiple reactors in a way sub surface fleet will have great difficulties with, unless the reactor was greatly miniaturized. Also, scaling up/down a nuclear reactor without changing the design drops its efficiency and reduces safety.
 
I think it was Admiral R. K. Dhowan who once said in an interview that the requirements, design and testing of reactors for surface and sub surface fleet are very different. Surface boats can use multiple reactors in a way sub surface fleet will have great difficulties with, unless the reactor was greatly miniaturized. Also, scaling up/down a nuclear reactor without changing the design drops its efficiency and reduces safety.
Well, China has temporarily frozen it's plan for a N Aircraft Carrier as they're facing teething issues with the design of the said N reactor for the carrier . I wonder how long will we take.
 
The powerplant is never talked about, not even a whisper of it in public knowledge. If I was guessing, I would say almost twice that of the INS Arihant's 83 MW reactor. As a precautionary measure Arihan't's reactor is limited to a lesser power than it is capable, this is probably a good idea given its our first sea based reactor. To propel a sub twice as heavy at the same cruise speeds as the Arihant, the power needs to double as well.

Long back I remember reading about BARC using the INS Chakra's 193 MW reactor as a base to build on future reactors for our sub fleet. Two different kinds of reactors were studied, one with a higher power rating allowing the subs to sprint underwater(for SSNs) another for towing heavy loads at constant low/medium velocities(for SSBNs). That's all I know, whether these studies went to project stage is not known in public.
Arighat is rumored to be around 25% longer than Arihant with a 120 MW reactor. Both the reactors are copies of Russian reactors. In fact, they are heavily built on Russian components if not sourced entirely from Russia (from a third-person account).