Rediff News. Harsh V Pant, 08/26/09
Retiring Indian Navy chief Admiral Surish Mehta recently said India has "neither the ability nor the intention" to match China's military strength, sparking criticism.
Commander of the Indian Navy Admiral Surish Mehta (photo newstrack.outlookindia.com)
But he stated the obvious! Today's reality is that China's gross domestic product is more than three times India's, and India's annual military spending is less than half that of China's. Therefore, the criticism is largely misplaced: Admiral Mehta simply decided to wake up Indian political circles to think about what conclusions can be drawn from the rise of China.
Mehta warned: the power of the PRC is growing rapidly, and if India does not act, there will be no talk of any “compliance”.
He stressed that India must not only achieve higher economic growth, but also strengthen ties with world powers and also undertake a number of major reforms in the defense sector.
These steps are necessary. If India defends its national interests, it must take into account the growing power of its neighbor.
In this context, the nationwide euphoria caused by the launch of India's first nuclear submarine, Arihant, is indicative. It is partly justified - finally, India can independently build and operate nuclear submarines on a par with five other countries in the world! But it should not blind us, otherwise we will overlook the important fact that the Indian fleet is still very, very far from competing with the Chinese, which is gradually settling in the waters surrounding India.
A few months ago, China showed off its developing fleet to the world at the first-ever parade of nuclear submarines as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Gone are the days when the PRC did not even dare to admit that it could build such a thing. Now the military establishment is openly declaring that China needs nuclear submarines to protect its national interests, and the Chinese fleet - once the weakest of the three branches of the forces - is undergoing a large-scale modernization, and the government administration appears to be taking it extremely seriously.
Now the Chinese navy is considered the third largest after the United States and Russia and surpasses the Indian one both qualitatively and quantitatively. Historically, it has been a coastal power, but as the country's economic power began to rise in the 1980s, China's interests expanded further into the Indian Ocean.
Chinese Navy (AFP photo)
China is investing much more money in modernizing its armed forces in general and its navy in particular than India. Constantly growing and improving submarine fleet The PRC, with its nuclear submarines, ballistic missiles, GPS signal jamming technologies and other things, may eventually become one of the largest in the world and even challenge the US Navy.
China's economic and political progress has been accompanied by its growing presence in the Indian Ocean. China is establishing bases at all strategic points in the region not only to serve its trade interests, but also to escalate military power. Senior Chinese officials say the country will be ready to begin building an aircraft carrier by the end of the decade, which they say is needed to protect China's blue water interests.
There is no longer any doubt that the state is comprehensively developing its military naval forces. Their power will provide China with the strategic leverage it needs as a regional hegemon and potential superpower.
This dependence on maritime space is reflected in China's desire to expand its influence and ultimately become the strongest player in the Indian Ocean strategic arena. The PRC is increasing its military presence in the South China Sea in the specific Indian context - this is clear from a secret note issued by the head of the PLA logistics department: “We can no longer afford to consider the Indian Ocean as an ocean only for Indians. We take into account armed conflicts in the region.”
At a submarine base in the south of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, China maintains Jin-class submarines. This closest Chinese base to the Indian Ocean is located only 1,200 nautical miles from the Strait of Malacca. The base has an underground part in which submarines can hide from any search engines.
The concentration of strategic naval forces in Hainan is a clear example of how China is striving to become the dominant power in the Indian Ocean.
And despite certain geographical advantages, India is becoming more and more vulnerable.
Today China is implementing a “string of pearls” strategy. It has already significantly increased the strategic depth of China’s penetration into India’s backyard.
The “String of Pearls” is China's points of presence and diplomatic ties in the Indian Ocean region. The port of Gwadar in Pakistan, naval bases in Myanmar, electronic reconnaissance facilities on the islands in the Bay of Bengal, financing the construction of a canal through the Thai Isthmus Kra, a military agreement with Cambodia, a build-up in the South China Sea...
80% of China's oil passes through the Strait of Malacca, which is controlled by the US Navy. To change this dangerous situation, China has decided to increase its presence in maritime routes in the region from the Persian Gulf to the South China Sea.
In addition to this, China is seeking the favor of other states in South Asia: it is building container ports in Bangladesh (Chittagong) and Sri Lanka (Hambantota), helping the Maldives to build a naval base in Marao...
Chinese Navy special forces (photo by Xinhua)
Undoubtedly, this situation indicates an upcoming confrontation between the two Asian giants. Spikes of tension are already happening. Earlier this year, a meeting between an Indian Kilo-class submarine and two Chinese destroyers in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the coast of Somalia resulted in a half-hour skirmish, during which the sides sought each other for “ weak points" Chinese media said that Chinese ships forced the submarine to rise to the surface. The Indian Navy categorically denies this. Fortunately, the ships and the boat separated without a fight.
But it is possible that in the future such incidents will have more serious consequences.
In such a depressing context, if Admiral Mehta's statement that India is still far from catching up with China has generated heated debate at a high level, it has achieved its goal.
Vikramaditya - Lord of the Indian Ocean
The Almighty's area of responsibility will extend all the way to the Antarctic latitudes
Fedor DIANOV
Here we cannot help but recall that the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy, Sergei Gorshkov, was one of the active supporters and enthusiasts of the development of military-technical cooperation between the two countries. This is during his leadership of the Soviet fleet of the Indian Navy in different years last century, eight diesel-electric submarines of Project 641, five missile destroyers of Project 61ME, five corvettes of Project 159, three small missile ships of Project 1234E, 14 missile boats project 205 "Osa" of various modifications, 12 sea minesweepers of project 266ME and six raid mine-sweeping ships of project 1258, eight landing ships of project 773, as well as several auxiliary vessels. Under Gorshkov, the transfer to a friendly country of twelve large missile boats of Project 1241RE and four small anti-submarine ships of Project 1241PE began. As can be seen from the list, these were not one-time deliveries from time to time, but targeted efforts to strengthen the Indian fleet. These combat and support units formed the backbone of the Indian Navy.
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The route of the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya from Severodvinsk to Karwar. |
They also took part in hostilities during the India-Pakistan conflict of 1971. So, on the night of December 5, three Indian “wasps” raided the enemy’s main naval base, Karachi. The destroyer Khaibar came out to intercept them. One of the Indian boats attacked it with two P-15 missiles. Both hit the target. The ship caught fire, began to take on water, lost stability, capsized and sank. A Pakistani minesweeper sank from Indian missile hits and a transport ship in the roadstead was seriously damaged. Two more rockets set the port facilities on fire. Four days later, the Indian "wasps" made a second sortie. This time, the main targets of the night attack were Karachi oil storage facilities. They were set on fire by four rockets. The flames of a huge fire illuminated the city and the sky. Other coastal facilities were also damaged, as well as four Pakistani and one British ships in the port.
Some of the ships of the “Gorshkovsky conscription” continue to serve today. In recent years, they have been supplemented by a number of combat and auxiliary units built in post-Soviet times: ten Project 877EKM diesel-electric submarines, six Project 11356 frigates, and the Jyoti tanker. One of these Project 11356 frigates, Trikand, escorted the Almighty from Barents Sea to Kadamba naval base. In 2012, the Indian Navy received a Project 971I nuclear submarine Chakra from Russia on a long-term lease. The fruit of Russian-Indian cooperation was the supersonic BRAHMOS missile, designed to destroy surface and coastal targets. With the participation of Russian specialists, three Project 15 missile destroyers, four Project 25 corvettes and four Project 25A were built in India. The newest Indian destroyers of Project 15A are partially equipped with Russian weapons, and Russian ships of Project 11356 became the prototype of Project 17 frigates, which are armed with BRAHMOS missiles, the Shtil-1 air defense system (Kashmir - according to Indian codification), and six-barreled 30-mm AK-630 artillery mounts.
In other words, with the help of the USSR and then Russia, India became one of the largest naval powers. Now the Navy of this country has been replenished with the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya. Its main weapons are 16 MiG-29K fighters and two MiG-29KUB combat trainers. They are designed to strike sea and coastal targets, as well as to protect the Almighty and other ships from air attacks.
Vikramaditya - made a strong impression even on the experienced sailors of the United Kingdom. This is what Chris Hollingsworth, an officer of the British frigate Monmouth, which accompanied the Indian aircraft carrier in the English Channel, told a correspondent of the official website of the Royal Navy about it: “I am impressed by the size of Vikramaditya, which is twice the size of our aircraft carrier Illustrious.”
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Scheme of deployment of Vikramaditya against naval bases of the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean zone. |
Even before arriving at his home port, Vikramaditya participated in naval exercises in the Arabian Sea. They also involved the aircraft carrier Viraat and other ships of the Indian Navy. According to foreign experts, this indicates that the Almighty will not stand idle at the base, but will be actively involved in combat service, especially in waters where it is difficult for coastal aviation to “reach” a potential enemy.
Particular attention, according to the same experts, will be paid to the naval bases and bases that China is creating in the Indian Ocean: Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Chittagong (Bangladesh), Sitte-Yangong and on the island Koko (Myanmar). From the eastern part of the Bay of Bengal, MiG-29K fighters, while providing refueling in the air, will be able to reach Hainan Island, where the newest PLA Navy base is located, to which strategic nuclear submarines are also assigned.
Undoubtedly, the Almighty's area of responsibility will be even wider and will extend all the way to the Antarctic latitudes. In a word, Vikramaditya will not be bored without work.
If there is a gun hanging on the wall in an Indian film, it will definitely sing or dance in the final scene.
The comparison of the Indian Navy with the filming pavilions of Bollywood is not accidental - after all, like any Indian cinema, the Indian Navy is real trash. But at the same time, trash of the highest level! Bright appearance and loud slogans, bold tactical decisions and colorful examples of the sea - the people who had a hand in creating the Indian Navy were true professionals in their field. However, in the end it turned out to be trash...
All! No more ridicule for Indian sailors.
The modern Indian Navy makes the most of the funds allocated for its development. A motley mixture of technologies from all over the world - Russian and Israeli weapons are successfully combined with electronics of our own design. At the same time, resourceful Indians do not hesitate to operate American Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft, and prefer to order promising non-submarine submarines from Europe (Franco-Spanish Scorpene project). The half-century-old British aircraft carrier Viraat is still underway. The leased Russian K-152 “Nerpa” serves on a par with the first Indian atomic aircraft of the “Arihant” type. The obsolete British Linder-class frigates inexplicably harmonize with the large Soviet-built Project 61-ME anti-submarine ships. And the legendary Varshavyanka submarines are equipped with German diesel-electric boats Type 209.
Despite the comical hodgepodge of technology from all times and peoples, acquaintance with the Indian fleet leaves behind a very clear impression:
1. The Indian Navy is developing! Whether it will ever be able to match the power of the US Navy or the Chinese Navy is unknown. But the trend is obvious.
2. Despite the absurd, at first glance, ship composition, the Indian fleet has absorbed the most promising concepts of modern naval combat - carrier-based aircraft, long-range anti-ship missiles, nuclear submarines, diesel-electric submarines and non-submarine submarines, frigates and destroyers of various sizes and purposes. One can criticize the Indians for the lack of a clear program for the development of the Navy, but one cannot fail to recognize the merits of the leadership of the Indian Navy in increasing the country's defense capability. Hindus almost always choose the best (at least from what is offered).
We have half a century of naval victories behind us. Battle of the minesweeper "Bengal" with two Japanese auxiliary cruisers (1942). The defeat of the Portuguese squadron during the landing operation on Goa (1961). Two Indo-Pakistani wars: the sinking of the Ghazi submarine, successful raids of Indian missile boats on Karachi. Preventing a military coup in the Maldives and successfully intercepting a cargo ship captured by mercenaries. Each time the Indians showed themselves to be excellent sailors.
What lies ahead is the continuous growth and ambitions of a regional leader striving to achieve a leading global position.
What is the modern Indian Navy? Do its capabilities match the challenges facing it?
"Sacred Cow" of the Indian Navy
To accurately describe the Indian Navy, one word is enough: “BrahMos”. Everything else pales in comparison to this incarnation of hell.
The Russian-Indian development is a medium-range supersonic anti-ship missile, currently the most advanced in the world. The flight speed of the BrahMos at an extremely low altitude (sea-skimming mode) is capable of reaching two speeds of sound - even the American Aegis is unlikely to be able to repel such an attack!
Brahmaputra - Moscow. The missile was developed on the basis of the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missile system. The mass of the warhead is 300 kg. The maximum launch range is up to 290 km at an altitude flight profile.
Despite successful attempts to intercept the BrahMos simulator target (American flying drone GQM-163 Coyote) using the PAAMS naval air defense system in ideal range conditions using external target designation, we can confidently state: at the moment there are no reliable means and methods interception of an Indian super-missile. A flock of BrahMos flying at an altitude of 5-10 meters is capable of penetrating any anti-missile shield and destroying any enemy squadron.
High flight speed is just the beginning of a terrible tale about the Indian rocket. The creators of BrahMos have prepared another unpleasant surprise for the enemy - modern technologies made it possible to achieve acceptable weight and size characteristics and reduce the launch weight of anti-ship missiles to 3 tons (lightweight aviation version - 2.5 tons). Simply an excellent result for a supersonic missile, especially compared to its predecessors, for example the P-270 Moskit (4...4.5 tons).
A radical reduction in the launch weight and dimensions of the rocket has made it possible to significantly increase the range of possible BrahMos carriers - the anti-ship missile can be used both from ground-based launchers and from warships of the destroyer or frigate class.
Options for equipping combat aircraft with BrahMos missiles have been worked out: the Su-30MKI multi-role fighter - up to 3 missiles (in reality, it will be great if it lifts at least one), the Il-76 multi-role transport aircraft - up to 6 missiles on an external sling (cheap and cheerful) ), anti-submarine aircraft of the Indian Navy: Il-38 (up to 4 missiles under the fuselage), Tu-142 (up to 6 missiles on the wing pylons). The first tests are planned for 2014.
Model of the Brahmos anti-ship missile system under the fuselage of the Su-30MKI
In September 2013, the Indian company BrahMos Aerospace made a statement that a submarine-launched version of BrahMos was ready for installation on Indian Navy submarines. Due to the large diameter of the hull (700 mm), the missile does not fit into a standard torpedo tube - the solution may be to install additional missile silos (as on the Los Angeles submarine).
Indian sailors get their hands on a truly universal weapon for naval combat: extremely fast, powerful, but most importantly - massive and omnipresent. A strike force of submarines or a squadron of Su-30MKI equipped with BrahMos missiles are capable of pulverizing any AUG of a potential enemy.
The adoption of the BrahMos super-missile automatically brings the Indian Navy to new level. One of the few fleets ready for real naval warfare.
Meanwhile, the Indians are not going to stop there: there are already reports of the start of development of a special aviation modification "BrahMos-M" (mini) weighing 1.5 tons, as well as an absolute "wunderwaffe" - "BrahMos-2" with a flight speed exceeding the speed of sound is five or more times (so far this is just a dream).
If left with a super-missile, then the rest of the Indian fleet appears as a bunch of rusty junk, as well as equipment purchased abroad with deliberately limited characteristics (export modifications). As an option - your own crafts, more reminiscent of replicas of warships, usually with foreign “stuffing”.
Sometimes, among the trash, you come across very worthy examples, but there are too few of them to completely change the situation for the better.
Aircraft carriers
The whole story with Indian aircraft carriers reminds me of a joke: theoretically, the Indians have three aircraft carriers. Practically, the Vikramaditya, which has not yet been handed over by the Russian side (an impromptu model based on the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov, model 1982), and the Vikrant, which is under construction, which is inferior in size to even the not very large Vikramaditya.
INS Vikramaditiya
Both ships will not reach operational readiness soon. The only aircraft carrier in service is the ancient Viraat, also known as the former British Hermes, launched in 1953.
All this is nothing more than a profanation of military service; the Indians are stroking their own pride and playing at a real fleet “like the Americans.” Real power The Indian Navy lies on a completely different plane.
Submarine fleet
The crown jewel of the underwater component of the Indian Navy is the leased Russian nuclear submarine K-152 Nerpa, which temporarily changed its name to Chakra. One can only congratulate the Indians on their excellent choice and sympathize with the Russian sailors for losing such a nuclear-powered ship for 10 years.
The Indians got the most powerful ship - the Project 971 multi-purpose underwater killer "Pike-B". One of the most formidable and advanced multi-purpose submarines of the third generation.
Masha is good, but not yours. Besides, she's only one. The Indians do not have their own submarines of this level, and are not expected to do so in the near future. It is noteworthy that another Russian boat K-43, the Project 670 Skat SSGN, had a similar name, “Chakra,” which was leased to the Indian Navy from 1988 to 1992.
India's first indigenously developed submarine should enter service as early as next year - the Arihant is currently undergoing extensive testing and verification. radiation safety. The fierce desire of Indian sailors to enroll in the elite club of nuclear-powered ship owners is overshadowed by a single circumstance: the Arihant is a deliberately outdated project compared to the modern Virginias, Sea Wolfs or Russian Shchukas.
INS Arihant
The composition of the weapons gives the Indians away - 12 K-15 Sagarika ballistic missiles with a launch range of as much as 1,900 km in a lightweight version (for comparison, the Russian R-29RMU2 Sineva SLBM has a launch range of 11,500 km). Why did the Indian Navy need a dozen short/medium range ballistic missiles? Too weak to solve strategic objectives, while completely ineffective in local wars. The answer is obvious - the technical lag of the Indian military-industrial complex. It is much easier to create a “blank” K-15 than a high-precision SLCM “Tomahawk” or “Caliber”.
As for non-nuclear submarines, here everything looks very decent for the Indians: 4 German diesel-electric submarines Type 209/1500 and ten Varshavyanka submarines of Soviet and Russian construction (one of them, the Sindurakshak, sank during an explosion in the port of Mumbai, 08/14/2013. ). According to the terms of the agreement, Indians do not have the right to repair Varshavyanka anywhere except Russia; Diesel-electric submarines regularly undergo major overhauls and modernization at Russian shipbuilding enterprises. During the modernization, some of the boats were equipped with sets of Indian radio-electronic equipment and cruise missiles of the Club complex ( export version"Caliber" with a limited firing range).
In the next 5-10 years, the Indian fleet should be replenished with six more Franco-Spanish Scorpene-class submarines equipped with air-independent power plant similar to the Stirling engine. Such ships are close in their capabilities to nuclear-powered ships; they are capable of continuously being submerged for 2-3 weeks. At the same time, they are head and shoulders above any submarine in terms of “stealth” (small size, absence of thundering turbines and pumps of the reactor cooling circuits).
Naval aviation
On May 16, 2013, the first P-8I Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft arrived at the Rajali naval base - the Indians chose the American aircraft as a replacement for the Il-38 and Tu-142, delivered during the Soviet era.
Boeing P-8I Poseidon at Rajali Naval Base
Indian Navy Il-38 long-range anti-submarine aircraft
Poseidon is a special version of the Boeing 737 civil airliner, equipped with the most modern equipment for conducting maritime reconnaissance and detecting enemy submarines. In total, the Indian Navy plans to purchase 12 such vehicles.
The Russian MiG-29K was chosen as the main carrier-based aircraft to replace the British Sea Harrier.
Among rotary-wing aircraft, the predominant helicopters are the Westland Sea King model (American Sikorsky SH-3 assembled under license in the UK). Row used Soviet cars Kamov Design Bureau - anti-submarine Ka-25 and Ka-28, AWACS Ka-31 helicopters, as well as French-made Aerospatiale Alouette III helicopters.
Westland SeaKing
Surface component
A meticulous listing of monotonous designs can cause boredom even to the most devoted lover of maritime affairs. Surface warships The Indian Navy is not distinguished by its impressive capabilities: despite eight projects of ships in the ocean zone, the Indians have never developed anything similar to the British destroyer Daring or Japanese destroyer URO type "Congo".
“Delhi”, “Shivalik”, “Talvar”, “Godavari”...
Two dozen quite ordinary destroyers and frigates, mostly with Russian weapons and detection systems. The Shtil air defense system, RBU-6000, AK-630 batteries, P-20 anti-ship missiles (export version of the P-15 Termit) and Kh-35 Uran... Everything is quite simple and not always effective, however, with sides creates the appearance of a powerful and numerous fleet.
The destroyer "Mysore", one of the three ships of the "Delhi" class. The largest of the self-built destroyers, the flagships of the Indian Navy. Total displacement – 6200 tons. Crew 350 people.
Power plant of the CODOG type - two diesel engines and two afterburning gas turbine engines, with a total power of 54,000 hp. Speed full speed– 28 knots. Cruising range – 5000 miles at 18 knots.
Weapons:
- 16 anti-ship missiles X-35 “Uran”;
- 2 air defense systems "Shtil";
- 1 Israeli-made air defense system “Barak-1”;
- universal artillery of 100 mm caliber, AK-630 self-defense systems, RBU and torpedoes.
- 2 British anti-submarine Sea King helicopters.
Among the more or less modern ships there are real “dinosaurs” - for example, five Soviet BOD Project 61-ME - despite its swift silhouette and updated design, this is just a variation on the theme of the Soviet “singing frigate” of the 1959 model (called the “singing frigate” "for the characteristic hum gas turbines). What are they worth alone? anti-aircraft systems M-1 “Volna” is a real rarity for a naval museum!
Frigates of the Godavari or Nilgiri type - improvisations based on the British frigate Linder of the early 1960s - don't look any better.
Destroyer D55 "Ranvijay" project 61-ME
Among Indian surface ships Of particular interest are the Talvar frigates, a series of six ships built in Russia between 1999 and 2013. Excellent ships in every sense. Perhaps the best frigates in the world in terms of cost/efficiency ratio.
On the technical side, “Talvar” is a deeply modernized patrol ship of Project 1135 “Burevestnik”: the latest combat systems in the hull using stealth technology completely changed the appearance and purpose of the ship. A universal firing complex for 8 cruise missiles “Club” or anti-ship missiles “BrahMos”, anti-aircraft systems “Shtil” and “Kortik”, a helicopter hangar - the time-tested “Burevesnik” received a second life.
The frigate turned out to be so good that the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered a series of four of the same ships for the Black Sea Fleet (project 11356).
In the future, the Indian Navy should be replenished with three more Kolkata-class destroyers - the newest Indian destroyers will be equipped with 16 BrahMos anti-ship missiles, as well as a vertical launch system for 16 cells - up to 64 Barak-1 and Barak-8 anti-aircraft missiles made in Israel.
All three ships have already been launched, and the lead Kolkata is expected to enter service next year. However, it is reported that during the construction phase the Indians encountered a huge amount difficulties - the ship's entry into service was delayed by at least 4 years. The final cost of the destroyer increased by 225% compared to the initial estimate - as a result, the construction of Kolkata cost the Indian budget $1.8 billion. The much larger and more advanced Orly Burke costs about the same.
Also, in addition to large ocean-going warships, the Indian Navy has a developed fleet of corvettes, missile boats and ships for controlling coastal zones; dozen landing ships, minesweepers, as well as a supporting detachment of naval tankers, military transports, training ships and oceanographic vessels. The Indian fleet is becoming like the multi-armed Vishnu, gaining versatility and the ability to operate far from family
Recently, another strategic project- naval base in Madagascar. The Indian Navy is preparing to defend its national interests in every corner of the Indian Ocean.
Indian sailors remain faithful to the precepts of the Kshatriya warrior caste: they are obliged to protect anyone who asks them for help; they are forgiven anger and violence, since this is their nature and is necessary for them to fulfill their duty.
Indian Navy at international exercises: Tanker INS Jyoti and destroyer INS Mysore, accompanied by destroyers of the Japanese Navy and the US Navy.
The heavy frigate "Trishul" was built in St. Petersburg.
Photo from the site www.pvo.guns.ru
Our country’s cooperation with India in the naval field has a half-century history and has marked a number of milestones for both countries. For Indian navy, initially created and developed according to the British model and equipped with ships purchased from the former metropolis, the transition in the 60s to the purchase of warships and naval weapons from the USSR served as an important turning point in political reorientation and gaining access to advanced military technologies. For the domestic shipbuilding industry, India became the first external customer for whom ships were built according to special export orders and special export projects - until that time, the USSR had supplied abroad only “standard” ships and boats built for the Soviet fleet, and more often simply transferred from composition of the USSR Navy. India became and remains the main importer of Soviet and then Russian naval equipment.
Over the past 50 years of the USSR, and then Russian Federation has emerged as a major supplier of warships and naval technology to the Indian Navy. Many ships being built in India itself were designed with Russian participation and are equipped with Russian equipment and weapons. Thanks to Russia, India was able to gain access to technologies and capabilities unique to the global defense market, such as nuclear submarine shipbuilding technologies and supersonic anti-ship missiles. No other country would have given India anything like this.
A HISTORY WITHOUT ANALOGUE
Military-technical cooperation between India and the USSR began in 1961 and has experienced rapid growth. The beginning of intensive cooperation with the USSR in the naval field was the signing of the Soviet-Indian agreement in September 1965. In accordance with it, India ordered from the USSR four diesel-electric submarines of Project I641, a floating base Amba of Project 1886E for them, five patrol ships Project 159E and five patrol boats of Project 368P. All these units were received already in 1967–1969. Project I641 boats were essentially the first submarines built in the USSR under a special export order. Then, in 1972–1974, the USSR built four more improved Project I641K submarines and five more Project 159E patrol ships for India.
The most important step in increasing the combat capabilities of the Indian fleet was the receipt from the USSR in 1971 of eight Project 205 missile boats armed with anti-ship weapons. missile system P-15. These were the first ships with guided missile weapons in the Indian Navy. Already at the end of the same year, these boats took part in hostilities against Pakistan, providing the Indians with absolute superiority over the Pakistani fleet, which did not have missile weapons, and making a significant contribution to the Indian victory. In 1976, the Indian Navy received an additional eight missile boats of the improved Project 205ER with the P-20 (P-15U) missile system, and in 1977–1978 - three small missile ships of Project 1234E with the P-20M missile system.
In 1974, India signed a contract with the Soviet side for the construction in Nikolaev at the Plant named after 61 Communards of five large anti-submarine ships (destroyers according to the Indian classification) according to a modified project 61ME developed by the Northern Design Bureau (PKB). This order became a milestone for the domestic shipbuilding industry - for the first time, the USSR built large warships under a special export order, and according to a project significantly different from the one on which similar ships were built for the USSR Navy. The receipt in 1980–1988 of these ships, armed with the M-1 anti-aircraft missile system, the P-20M anti-ship missile system and a permanently deployed anti-submarine helicopter and equipped with an all-mode gas turbine power plant, significantly increased the combat capabilities of the Indian Navy.
The mine action forces of the Indian fleet were updated through the construction in the USSR in 1978–1988 of 12 sea minesweepers of Project 266ME and in 1983–1984 of six raid minesweepers of Project 1258E.
Since the 70s, the USSR has provided assistance to the Indian side in the development of national military shipbuilding. In addition to advisory and technical assistance, India was supplied with weapons (including Osa-MA and P-20M missile systems) and radio-electronic equipment to equip three national project 16 Godavari-class frigates built in India (based on the British Leander-class frigates) commissioned in construction in 1982–1988, and then, already in the post-Soviet period, more modern weapons (including Uran-E anti-ship missile systems) for three frigates of the modified Project 16A (Brahmaputra type), transferred to the Indian fleet in 2000–2005.
Since the 1980s, India's cooperation with the USSR and then Russia in the naval field entered a new phase, characterized by India's acquisition of the most advanced Soviet and then Russian technologies and ships.
From 1986 to 2000, India received 10 Project 877EKM diesel-electric submarines built in the USSR and Russia. The construction of this series finally propelled India to the role of the largest buyer of domestically built submarines. The last of the boats of this series, Sindhushastra, was built according to a modified project 08773 and the first of the ships was equipped with the Club-S missile system (which the Russian Navy did not possess). After 2000, all other Indian boats of Project 877EKM are currently undergoing medium repairs at Russian enterprises(JSC Admiralty Shipyards, and now JSC Zvyozdochka) are also undergoing a similar modernization with equipment with the Club-S complex.
The most decisive step in cooperation with Moscow was expressed in India's receipt in January 1988 of the Soviet nuclear submarine K-43 Project 670 (or rather, its “export” version - Project 06709), called Chakra (“Chakra”) and equipped anti-ship missiles"Amethyst". This was the first transfer of a nuclear submarine from one state to another in history. Although just three years later the boat had to be returned to the USSR for political reasons, the operation of this boat clearly demonstrated to the leadership of the Indian Navy the great combat importance of nuclear submarines.
To replace outdated Soviet-built missile boats, the Indian Navy received from the USSR five large Project 1241RE missile boats armed with the P-21/P-22 missile system in 1987–1990, and then began their licensed construction in India from 1991 to 1997 six units were delivered, and in 2002 the last two boats were put into operation, completed according to a modified design with the installation of a new Uran-E missile system. In addition, in 1989–1991, four small anti-submarine ship project 1241PE.
NEW STAGE
In India itself, in the 80s, the independent construction of new generation warships began, designed by Soviet design bureaus and equipped mainly with Soviet and then Russian weapons and equipment. A great success of the Indian shipbuilding industry was the commissioning in 1997 of the destroyer Delhi Project 15, developed by the Northern Design Bureau, which had been under construction for 10 years in Mumbai with technical assistance first from the USSR and then from Russia. Delhi became the first foreign ship to receive a number of modern and previously unexported Soviet naval weapons systems (Shtil anti-aircraft missile system, Fregat-MA radar). Of particular note is the armament of this ship with the Uran-E anti-ship missile system, thanks to which India became the first recipient of this complex, since it was adopted by the Russian Navy missile system“Uran” arrived only after 2002, and even then in limited quantities. Following the lead one, in 1999 and 2001, the Indian Navy received two more Project 15 destroyers (Mysore and Mumbai).
Then construction began on three more destroyers according to the modified Project 15A (Kolkata type), which is also carried out with active Russian assistance. These ships are expected to be armed with the Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missile system in vertical launchers, as well as the BrahMos missile system. All three ships are currently at the completion stage and should be delivered in 2011–2013. In addition, in 2009, the Indian government authorized the construction of four destroyers of an even more modified Project 15B.
According to the project of the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau in India, to replace the old patrol ships of Project 159E, the construction of Indian Project 25 corvettes (Khukri type) began. Four such ships, equipped with P-21/P-22 missile systems, were transferred to the Indian Navy in 1989–1991, and then four more units were built according to the modified Project 25A (Kora type), equipped with the Uran-E missile system and commissioned in 1998–2004.
However, the significant difficulties that India encountered in organizing the construction of ships at home forced the Indian fleet to once again resort to direct orders from Russia. In 1997, India signed a contract worth $1 billion for the construction in Russia of three frigates specially developed by the Northern Design Bureau of Project 11356, equipped with the Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missile system and the Club-N missile system. The agreement became one of the most important achievements of the Russian shipbuilding industry of the post-Soviet period and the first significant military shipbuilding program implemented in Russia after the collapse of the USSR. At the same time, for the first time, Russia built ships for export that were more advanced than for its fleet. Three Talwar-class frigates were built by Baltic Shipyard OJSC in St. Petersburg and, despite delays due to technical problems, were delivered to the Indian Navy in 2003–2004, proving to be one of the most advanced and powerful ships of their class in the world. In 2006, India signed another contract worth $1.56 billion for the construction of three more frigates of the modified Project 11356M with a delivery date of 2011–2012, their construction is carried out by the Yantar Baltic Shipyard OJSC in Kaliningrad. These ships are equipped with the Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missile system in vertical launchers and the BrahMos missile system. It is not excluded that India will order three more Project 11356M ships in the future.
Based on Project 11356, the Indians, with the participation of the Northern Design Bureau, developed a frigate of Project 17 for construction by national industry, equipped primarily with Russian weapons (Shtil-1 and Club-N complexes). Three frigates of Project 17 are being built in Mumbai, the lead of which Shivalik was delivered to the fleet in 2010.
However, the most landmark contracts for Indian-Russian cooperation in military shipbuilding were the contracts concluded after 2000 for the supply of the former heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral of the Fleet to India. Soviet Union Gorshkov" and the nuclear multipurpose submarine "Nerpa".
Negotiations on the sale to India of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" (formerly "Baku") of Project 11434 (standard displacement 37 thousand tons), commissioned by the USSR Navy in 1987, but already laid up in 1994, were carried out almost a decade and were crowned with success only in 2004 with the signing of a contract worth $1.8 billion. According to this agreement, Russia transfers the ship to India (where it was named Vikramaditya) and for $970 million it is being rebuilt into a full-fledged aircraft carrier by 2008 with springboard launch of aircraft, and for another 752 million dollars it is developing and supplying India for the air group of this ship with 16 MiG-29K carrier-based fighters (with an option for another 29). The package also includes the supply of Ka-31 shipborne radar patrol helicopters and Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters.
Work on the modernization of the Admiral Gorshkov for India according to project 11430 of the Nevsky Design Bureau has been carried out at JSC Northern Machine-Building Enterprise since 2005, but has been significantly delayed, further complicated by disagreements about the final cost of the re-equipment. In total, India subsequently had to pay an additional amount of about $1.5 billion for the re-equipment above the original contract price. As expected, the commissioning of the converted ship into the Indian Navy will ultimately occur no earlier than 2012. The ship is expected to be the largest combat unit ever exported in world naval history and will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian Navy.
The history of cooperation with India on the nuclear submarine fleet, which began with the lease of Chakra, was further developed in the agreement signed in October 2000 on the transfer to India for a long-term lease of the third-generation nuclear attack submarine K-152 Nerpa, which remained unfinished at the Amur Shipyard OJSC. order 518, construction began in 1986, developer SPMBM "Malachite") and its completion. At the time of signing the agreement, the technical readiness of Nerpa was 86.5%. Subsequently, a similar completion and lease to India of a second boat of the same type located at the same enterprise was envisaged (order 519, readiness about 60%). The final signing of the contract took place in 2005. The total cost of the agreement with India on the completion and lease of two nuclear submarines is estimated at $1.8 billion, including the contract for Nerpa at $650 million. After commissioning, Nerpa should be transferred to Indians on lease for a period of 10 years, with lease payments amounting to $25 million per year.
Work in 2004 was resumed only on Nerpa, which was being completed for India according to a specially “deeply modernized” project 971I, on which, in particular, the composition of the weapons was changed and the Club-S missile system was installed. “Nerpa” has been undergoing testing since 2008, and its transfer to the Indian side is scheduled for the spring of 2011. As part of the Indian fleet, she will receive the same name Chakra. Then, apparently, the construction of a second nuclear submarine for India will be resumed.
In addition, it is known that Russia is assisting India in implementing the ATV program for the design and construction of its own nuclear submarine. Apparently, a number of systems are also supplied for it from Russia. The first Indian nuclear submarine, Arihant, was launched in 2009, and during its launch, Indian Prime Minister Singh directly thanked his “Russian friends” for their assistance. Now the boat is in the stage of completion and testing.
It is also worth mentioning that in 1996, the Project 15966 refueling tanker Jyoti was built for the Indian Navy by the Admiralty Shipyards.
AIR COMPONENT AND FURTHER PROSPECTS
Cooperation with Moscow has had a significant impact on expanding the combat capabilities of Indian naval aviation. In the 70s and 80s, for the needs of long-range aviation reconnaissance of the Indian Navy, first six Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft were acquired from the aviation of the USSR Navy, and then eight long-range anti-submarine aircraft Tu-142ME, the range of which allowed them to be kept under surveillance barely perhaps the entire Indian Ocean. The USSR supplied seven Ka-25PL anti-submarine helicopters and 19 more modern Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters.
After 2000, five Il-38 aircraft (including two additionally supplied from the Russian Navy) were upgraded to the Il-38SD variant with the installation of a new search and targeting system “Sea Serpent”. In 2003–2004, nine Ka-31 long-range radar patrol helicopters were delivered to India, with India becoming the main customer for this helicopter. For the converted former heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov and for the IAC aircraft carrier being built in India (including an option transferred to the contract), the first six of which were delivered in 2009. In addition, nine more Ka-31 helicopters and eight Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters have been contracted. Nevskoe PKB also developed a project for Indian order ground complex for pilot training carrier-based aviation, which is to be built in India.
A very significant joint project between Russia and India was the development and production of the BrahMos anti-ship supersonic missile by the joint venture of the same name created by the Indian defense organization DRDO and Russian JSC"NPO Mashinostroyenia" The BrahMos missile was created on the basis of the Russian missile of the Onyx (Yakhont) complex, and the production of kits for the missiles is carried out by Strela JSC in Orenburg with subsequent delivery to India for retrofitting. The BrahMos project is a reference example of the implementation of a bilateral military-industrial program. To date, all three branches of the Indian armed forces have ordered or are planning to purchase a total of up to 1000 BrahMos missiles worth up to $5 billion. The BrahMos joint venture is working in the interests of the Indian side and to create a new generation of missiles with hypersonic speed.
It can be stated that there remains enormous potential for further development and deepening cooperation between Russia and India in the naval sphere in many areas. Thus, new Russian warship projects are also being offered to India for joint construction. Rosoboronexport, with a frigate of Project 22350, is taking part in the Indian Navy’s competition for the construction of seven new generation frigates of Project 17A (the Indians are planning to build one ship at a foreign shipyard and six under license at Indian enterprises). Non-nuclear submarines of Project 677 (Amur-1650) with the possibility of being equipped with the BrahMos missile system are offered for a new Indian tender for six submarines (to be built under license in India). Apparently, joint Russian-Indian developments in the field of naval technology will also be developed.
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