Yes. The "Black Shark" contract was cancelled, then the Navy uses for Kalvary-class the same old german SUT torpedoes than the Shishumar class. Eventually, the submarines will be armed with Varunashtra torpedoes, or French F21, or German SeaHake...
A good subs with old fashioned torpedoes is a waste of money.
There's another reason. Our relationship with Italy has been rather testy in recent times. Plus they've been active suppliers of many systems & sub systems to the Pakistanis. With our own heavy weight torpedos coming in it makes little sense to go in for new ones especially from Italy although admittedly the Black Shark is the best in the business out there
There are other good torpedoes : Spearfish, DM2A4, F21
A combo of a small qty of west and mature torpedoes with more indinenous ones maybe...
I think it'd be more of foreign torpedos & less of Indian ones at least in the initial tranche . As far as the other torpedos you've named goes , I doubt whether the BMS of the Kalvari class is tuned for anything else other than the Black Shark , the F-21 or the Sea Hake.
If we do opt for a different system it means getting Naval Group in to attune the systems for which they'd present us with a generous bill. To make matters worse we don't even have palm oil to trade for services rendered unlike the Indonesians.
It's a tragic situation whichever way you see it - the whole Scorpene saga since it's inception.
I don't think so. The weapon system has just to be load with the kinematic spec of the torpedo (speed, range, seeker range...) and because all are 533mm compatible it's simple and costless.
Yes & it is precisely to program those kinematic specs into the mainframe & attune other systems for which NG will present a nice handsome bill to MDL. After all it's their bread & butter sorry croissant.
MoD
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: DRDO’s Fuel Cell-based Air Independent Propulsion system to soon be fitted onboard INS Kalvari, significantly enhancing its submerged endurance
DRDO & Naval Group France sign agreement to safely integrate the indigenous system in Kalvari-class submarines
Ministry of DefencePosted On: 23 JAN 2023 8:21PM by PIB Delhi
In a major boost to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, Fuel Cell-based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system of DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) will soon be fitted onboard INS Kalvari. An agreement was signed between senior officials of NMRL and Naval Group France in Mumbai on January 23, 2023 to extend cooperation to enter into the detailed design phase for integration of indigenous AIP in the Kalvari class submarines. As part of the agreement, Naval Group France will certify the AIP design for integration in the submarines.
The AIP has a force multiplier effect on lethality of a diesel electric submarine as it enhances the submerged endurance by several folds. It has merits in performance compared to other technologies and is unique as the hydrogen is generated onboard. This technology has been successfully developed by NMRL with the support of Indian industry partners. The technology has now reached the stage of maturity for industrialisation.
It is worth mentioning that the land-based prototype of the NMRL’s AIP has been tested successfully. This new endeavour will be a significant step towards the detailed design certification of the energy module, which will be performed by NMRL along with Indian industry and design of the platforms impacted by the integration of the indigenous AIP inside the Indian submarine by Naval Group. These actions will seamlessly lead the way to start of localisation and industrialization of AIP including the hull fabrication by the Indian industry for future fitment on-board the submarines.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman & CEO at Naval Group France Mr Pierre Eric Pommellet said, they are proud to cooperate with Indian stakeholders to safely integrate the AIP in the Kalvari class submarines, which have been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. This is a natural extension of strategic bilateral cooperation shared between India and France in the field of underwater defence & deterrence and in line with Naval Group’s continued commitment towards the Government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ policy.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, Indian Navy and MDL for taking Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative forward in underwater domain. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat also congratulated NMRL, Indian Navy, MDL and Naval Group France for this strategic partnership. /end
A very important and nice timing for this news.
I don't think. It is like to fine tune windows... => you don't need Microsoft expert team to do that.
It paves the way for a new batch of AIP fitted from time zero Scorpene.
SUBTICS must be configured for the model of torpedo that the Navy will choose. It is certain that it will be easier (cheaper?) with the F21 than with an "exotic" torpedo. The Brazilian Navy has chosen the F21.
yep!
Kalvari class will use drdo EHWT submarine launched torpedoes
Navy is working with drdo on the project since long
Cost of updates to subtics and cost of torpedo will be lowest of all options plus provide a path to successive upgrades which otherwise not possible with foreign imports , using local torpedoes provides navy with full spectrum of options with regard to capabilities without anyone being wise to it , not possible with foreign imports
And fyi torpedoes performance is subject to local conditions
Navy is working with drdo on the project since long
Cost of updates to subtics and cost of torpedo will be lowest of all options plus provide a path to successive upgrades which otherwise not possible with foreign imports , using local torpedoes provides navy with full spectrum of options with regard to capabilities without anyone being wise to it , not possible with foreign imports
And fyi torpedoes performance is subject to local conditions
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What's the E in HWT for? Extra range? Besides is this the Varunastra you're referring to? When will we induct these torpedoes? Any extra information about the EHWT you can share?
Thanks in advance.
Waiting for DRDO to come through with a project that didn't even start testing is just sad. I don't have any other words. That's not an argument just hope.
Navy waited for DRDO to deliver a towed array sonar for three decades. And they closed this "Advanced" sonar project calling it "successful". Mind you, this was their second attempt after earlier failure.
Now, half of the ASW capable ships are without this capability.
In 2030, will we be waiting for them to deliver torpedoes our SSNs ?
