So, TAL Shyena was the 1st generation light torpedo. Our 1st attempt at making a modern torpedo. Understandably it wasn't at par with the best light torpedoes around the world. Yet the Navy gave it a chance. Production began in 2012 and by 2023 over 2000 units were built. BDL even managed to export the torpedo. Because the Navy placed sufficient orders the investment that went into this project was recovered & we also managed to learn to integrate the torpedo to various platforms like ships, helos, aircraft, missile etc.
ALWT is the 2nd generation of light torpedo. It is one par with the best light torpedoes out there. Now it will take over and replace the Shyena in service.
Similarly, specs of the Varunastra, our first heavy torpedo, left somethings to be desired. Again, the Navy adopted it into service. Almost all bigger surface ships use it now. They even managed to integrate it to the Kilo class submarines. That would also mean the Varunastra is compatible to the Arihant class.
Now the 2nd gen heavy torpedo, the EHWT will replace the Varunastra when it is ready. In the meantime, they are also upgrading the Varunastra by giving it a more powerful battery & a new pumpjet propulsor.
Damn, torpedo program is better thought out than I gave it credit for. Navy's project management is way better than IA & IAF. If the IA or the IAF had to buy a weapon that is not a silver bullet, just to build & sustain a domestic ecosystem, there would be no end to their cribbing.
The choice to build a whole TTR (Torp testing range) is also intriguing, obvious incremental development lines will continue esp with now auv becoming more common use tool. We might see hybrid products for various other use cases as well.
25 units or so were built & fired during initial testing between the year 1998-2000. Testing continued for another decade after 2000. 25 units were ordered in the 1st batch in 2012-13. Every subsequent year more units have been ordered. 2000+ units built was mentioned in a MoD Annual report.Is it 2000 or 20 ?
The unit cost of the Shyena is >900k USD. The torpedo has received at least 5 export orders. All of them probably went to the Myanmar navy. Out of which the value of the 1st & 3rd deals is publicly known, $38 million & $71 million respectively. So at least a 100+ torpedoes were sold in those 2 deals. Cumulatively in all 5 export deals we have probably sold around 200-250 torpedoes.
Navy maintains a good tempo of AShM & LACM firing for training, they probably maintain an equal tempo for torpedo training. It's just that to fire a torpedo you don't need to issue a NOTAM. It is not hard to imagine production numbers reaching 2000+.
They also have a dedicated torpedo recovery ship. This ship probably can also recover heavy AUVs.
A number in the thousands is simply impossible. I don't think we could have produced a quantity of one-time-use AWS rockets of that magnitude. We don't use Shyena from helicopters or aircraft; Il-38 and Seaheawk have retired from that role. That leaves small ships, with at best one being able to house 6 per ship. That's all. All heavier ships can use HWT (Varunastra), which was orderd in now double digits. Keep in mind that during training they can recover the torpedo and reuse.
Probably, more were exported than used by the Indian Navy.
You serious?
RBU-6000s entered service with the IN in the 80s. Since then, IN has had 28 ships with the RBUs. Each ships carry 2 launchers & each launcher has 96 rockets. We would need 5300 + rockets just to get these ships to fire their whole clip for once. Each of these ships have served/will serve for 30+ years. They won't fire an entire clip worth of rockets in their 30+ years of service?
OFB has been producing RPK-8 rockets since the mid 80s. DRDO even came up with a longer-range variant of that rocket called ERASR. L&T has started a 2nd production line for the RBUs a few years back.
Il-78 was used as a test platform. Yes, they have been more or less retired. Eventually we have to get our own LWT on the P-8Is.
Seahawk? Yor mean Sea kings? I thought they still perform ASW ops. Regardless, in the future we will have the MH-60 & a variant of the ALH take over the ASW role. These platforms will need LWTs. Can't be relying on the Americans for ammo.
Odd assumption. The Kamorta class corvettes are small ships. Yet they carry 8 tubes of 533 mm heavy torpedo launchers.
Also torpedo tubes, especially light torpedo tubes can be reloaded mid-voyage. They have a wheeled carriage system that is used to load LWT on to tubes. It's a 2-to-3-man job but doable at sea. LWTs are not like VLS that need port cranes to reload.
In fact, the Navy has a sizable number of ammo carrying barges to supply their fleet with 76mm shells, RBU rockets, LWTs etc. No reason to assume that if there are 6 LWT launch tubes ships must be carrying just 6 torpedoes.
Yes, all heavier ships can use HWT, but they don't exclusive use HWTs. In most Navys around the world, heavier ships like destroyers, frigates etc. are prolific users for LWTs.
Shivalik class frigates are pretty big ships. Here is a video if the Shivaliks firing Shyenas & ALWTs:
In fact, when a new LWT is inducted heavy surface ships are often the 1st users. Given their size heavy ships are considered safer to try out firing new munitions.
Yes, but there is some time needed to refurbish used torpedoes. You cannot just pull it out of the water & shove it into a launch tube. So, a sufficient number of torpedoes need to be maintained as ammo reserves.
Come on man. You want me to do a torpedo launcher count between the IN & Myanmar Navy?
I think you agree with the export numbers because there are media reports on it. Since there are no articles on the number of torpedoes produced, we must not have produced much.
It is wrong to think that all that happens is reported by the media (&/or reported correctly) and that all that isn't reported never happened. Media hasn't reported on how many rounds of 76mm naval artillery rounds we have produced so far. Should we presume we haven't produced any?
You are rambling besides the point. Tell me how many ships we are using today. And where did you get this absurd number to begin with.
We don't use it from il-38 or any helicopters. That leaves it to handful of ships.
All our frigate/destroyers uses heavy weight torpedos not LW. Shivalink was the test platform for ALWT, that's all.
Comparing ammunition to torpedo is just childish.
IN is not happy with the product enough to make it primary LW torpedo. They gave very limited order for it. They will be ordering next version which is under development. Navy is still depended on Russian and American Mk54 for air drop requirements.
It is possible though about the numbers, BDL release torpedo carrier & loading crane tenders multiple times over the year , so that maybe related to delivery schedule ? Now take that with repeat orders depending on need for separate spec vehicle/truck etc.
For ex, currently they got this out
For ex, currently they got this out
Latest On Indonesia’s Scorpène And Plan To Acquire Four More Submarines
India’s Involvement?
In recent months, several Indian companies, particularly Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, have expressed interest in participating in PT PAL’s upcoming Scorpène production. With India having received similar local production schemes from Naval Group which allowed it to build six Scorepen/Kalvari-class submarines domestically, Indian defence industry believes it has valuable lessons to offer.On the other hand, participating in Indonesia’s Scorpène project could provide India with firsthand experience in working with the latest Scorpène variant, especially as there is a plan for New Delhi to buy additional Scorpène. It would also help the Indian shipyard to maintain their know how as all six Kalvari-class submarines have now been produced.
In fact, earlier this month, a number of Indonesian high-ranking defence officials visited Mazagon and other Indian defence companies as part of the 7th India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting.
It will be interesting to see if Indonesia and France accept India’s proposal and if other “Scorpène Club” members -Brazil, Chile, and Malaysia- will make similar offers.
How is that relevant ? Scorpène is getting follow on contract anyway. That makes MDL the only active production line in the future. Its not like you have an active line in france.Only if P75I program is cancelled
We have built Scorpene submarine in Cherbourg: 2 for Chile, 2 for Malaysia and we still have 2 to build for Romania.How is that relevant ? Scorpène is getting follow on contract anyway. That makes MDL the only active production line in the future. Its not like you have an active line in france.
Yet, there is nothing "active". Integrating the Indian supply chain could be beneficial for everyone by reducing costs.
When you are able to built a SSN, you can built a SSK of the same weight class. The contrary is not true.How is that relevant ? Scorpène is getting follow on contract anyway. That makes MDL the only active production line in the future. Its not like you have an active line in france.
(the problem of USA or GB is that their SSN are too big to create a far smaller SSK. Even Russia is facing problems with its Lada sub, a so called brand new SSK. They go back and built improved Kilo...).
MDL in advanced talks with Defence Ministry for Rs 35,000 crore Kalvari submarine deal
MDL in advanced talks for a potential ₹35,000-crore deal to acquire three larger, modern Kalvari-class submarines with advanced electronics and propulsion for the Navy, ensuring 60% indigenous content.
Modi gov. needs to be proactive and sign Scorpene and Rafale-M deal within the next 100 days. Fingers crossed.....MDL in advanced talks with Defence Ministry for Rs 35,000 crore Kalvari submarine deal
MDL in advanced talks for a potential ₹35,000-crore deal to acquire three larger, modern Kalvari-class submarines with advanced electronics and propulsion for the Navy, ensuring 60% indigenous content.m.economictimes.com
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