Navy fleet plan — 3rd Aircraft Carrier, key to projecting power

The Navy is undergoing a major expansion in fleet size (200+ by 2037 from 130), induction of advanced platforms, weapons and technologies incl AI, machine learning, big data. Indigenous efforts are gaining momentum through DRDO, academia, government companies, and the private sector. Startups play a very useful role. Navy Chief says there is enough allocation (@17.8% share of defence budget) to fund capital requirements. It spends 68% on capital and 32% on revenue. 

According to the Naval Chief's interview, a 3rd aircraft carrier has become a necessity, with "its ability to provide persistent air power at extremely short notice and shift to another theatre within 48-72 hrs". 

How can we be confident that the Navy will have its way with the Centre? In a few words, the Indian establishment regards the Indian Ocean as India's backyard and India's geo-political might will be expressed through control and "benign management" over these waters and the immediate Indo-Pacific region. 

Naval Chief says, "the increased centrality of the Indo-Pacific region in global geo-strategic calculus is accompanied by a return of great power competition, which is here to stay". India is in the middle of the Indian Ocean region, and at the core of the Indo-Pacific region, which he says defines the contemporary geostrategic world. He puts Indian establishment's thinking like this, "to understand the underlying principle of India’s approach — not just to the Region but to the world at large, is brilliantly articulated by S. Jaishankarm, EAM in his book ‘The India Way,’ where I quote – ‘India will grow with others, not separately.’". 

India's economy will be large (5 trillion USD by 2025) and fast growing. India will harness the vast ocean resources that cover everything from energy, ecology, fishing and tourism. The resource-rich region will drive self-interest among states, create conflict, inter-dependency, and a degree of cooperation among them. The Indian Navy will play a critical role in providing overarching security as well as protecting, preserving, and promoting India's national interests in the maritime domain. 

The Navy recognizes its responsibility. The maritime prospective plan is envisaged to meet the ‘Blue Water’ and ‘Brown Water’ threats across the spectrum of surface, sub-surface, aerospace, and cyber domains. It will put "power behind the punch", making every platform at sea count!

 

The Navy is working on Atmanirbhar Bharat so it becomes fully self-reliant by 2047. It has achieved a 65% average over the last 10 years and aims to get to 80% in 10-15 years. While there is a current dependency on foreign equipment, spares are being manufactured by Indian companies. It is 90-100% indigenous in ammunition and is actively working with DRDO, DPSUs to source niche technology products. Development of Emerging/ Disruptive technologies and their assessment & adoption, are being guided by Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC).

It will take time 

▬ A repeat order of indigenous Vikrant AC (called IAC-1, 43000 tonnes) has been given (as told by Defence Minister) to Cochin Shipyard.

▬ There is utter confusion over Project-75I DE submarines as the tender was not accepted by global OEMs. The tender has been extended to Aug 2023. 

▬ Minesweeper project is cancelled, and will be replaced by "autonomous" utility vessels.

▬ LHD project (more capable, better suited than vanilla LPD) is ready for DAC & FRP. 

▬ A repeat batch of Project-17A Nilgiri class frigates (7 in number) will be ordered by 2025. 

▬ 7 or or 8 Next Generation Corvettes (3,600 tonnes displacement!) to be ordered by 2025. 

▬ Project 18 Next Generation destroyers (5 to 10 in number, 13000 tonnes displacement!) will start construction between 2025 and 2030 in 2 phases.

Next in line

▬ There are 45 ships and submarines under different phases of construction at various shipyards, including: 2 Scorpene submarines; 4 Talwar class frigates being built in Russia & India; 3 Project 15B destroyers; 7 Project 17A stealth frigates; 16 anti-submarine shallow water crafts (covettes); 1 GTRE class survey vessel; 5 diving support vessels; 2 multi-support vessels.

▬ Indian Navy is in the initial stages of contracting to place orders for 39 more warships. "We hope to sign those contracts in the next year. Beyond that another 25 ships are also in the pipeline," said Vice Admiral Singh during the Navy Day briefing. This amounts to 39 near-commitments and 64 total potential orders (not including nuclear submarines). 

Near-commitments are likely to be: Midget submarines (2); Next Generation Missile Vessels (covettes) (6); Next Generation Fast Attack Crafts (7); Next Generation OPV (11); HSL class Replenishment vessels (5); High speed Landing craft (6); National Hospital Ship (1) 

Ships in pipeline: Follow-on IAC (1), Project 75I subs (6); LHD (4), Follow-on Nilgiri class Frigates (7); Next Generation Covettes (7)

Little later: Project 18 Next Generation destroyers (5 - 10)

▬ Indian Navy requirements for aircraft are: 6 follow-on P-8I maritime petrol aircraft; 26 foreign carrier-based fighters; unspecified no of TEDBF carrier-based fighters; 40 ship-borne UAVs; 10 long-endurance, high-altitude drones like MQ-9A Reaper; 23 maritime petrol aircraft (8 more Dornier 228 & 15 Tata-Airbus C295); 120+ naval HAL Dhruv; 110+ naval HAL LUH; and 60 medium MRH (probably HAL IMRH due by 2028).

Next generation punch — 8 new platforms and possible timelines Link

The Navy has developed futuristic platforms that will deliver "power behind the punch". Possible numbers to be inducted are indicated.

• Next Generation Fast Interceptor Craft (unknown nos. being built at L&T shipyard) - for Indian Coastal Guard, for patrol and rescue operations in India's EEZ; coastal surveillance, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations in shallow waters, nr the coast. Link

• National Hospital Ship (1, FRP in 2022, contract in ~2023)

• Next Generation Survey Vessels (4 U/C, GRSE class) - modern hydrographic capability for geological & oceanographic work; for surveys of navigational channels, coasts, ports, and deep-water areas. Serves in a limited capacity in defence, like a hospital during an emergency and helo operations in the open ocean.

• Next Generation Fast Attack Crafts (NGFACs) (7 or more, FRP in 2023) - stealthy, small, fast, highly manoeuvrable ships, for the anti-submarine role.

• Next generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) (11 ordered for $1.2b, 2022) - has multiple roles and capabilities, eg. security of offshore assets, interception at sea, enforcement, mine warfare & special ops incl helo ops.

• Next generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) (6 ordered for $1.3b, 2021)- stealth covettes, with protection from air & missile threats; for defence (guns), anti-ship and land attack (brahmos).

• Next-generation corvettes (NGCs) (~8, FRP for ~ $2-3b, 2023) - fully featured, heavy corvettes, with high multi-dimensional stealth, latest sensors, protection from air & missile threats. For surveillance, escort, coastal security, search and attack, defence (guns), anti-submarine, anti-ship, land attack (brahmos).

• Next generation Destroyers (NGD) (5+5) - at twice the size of current destroyers, they will have full-spectrum capabilities, next-generation weapons, radars and propulsion. Under-development/ futuristic systems include long-range radar, hypersonic missiles, long range surface to air missiles, directed energy weapons and ‘Torpbuster’ anti-torpedo torpedoes. Ballistic missile defence capability may also be incorporated.

◘ Acquisition of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier - repeat order for IAC-2 given and production started!

◘ Acquisition of DE submarines (Project-75I) (FRP for ~$6.6b) - next-generation submarines with transfer of technology from foreign OEM; much heavier than Scorpene submarines, have AIP; for anti-ship, anti-submarine, land attack, special operations via launch of underwater pods.

◘ Acquisition of Fleet Support Ships (5, ~order for $2.6b in 2023, to HSL) - technology transfer from Anadolu Shipyard in Turkey. At 45,000 tonnes displacement, they have a very large capacity to carry fuel, ammunition, food and other stores. Would also be equipped with anti-ship, anti-submarine and CIWS gun systems.

◘ Acquisition of LHD (FRP for ~$3.3b in 2023, delivery 8 yrs) - will carry more than 12 helos, have air defence (32 V-SRSAM) and land attack (16 missiles) capabilities.

◘ Acquisition of Mine countermeasures capability through autonomous underwater vehicles with MCM modules, unmanned surface vessels with MCM modules, portable UUVs for ordnance disposal, expendable underwater mine disposal systems, etc.

Indigenisation efforts

◘ LRSAMs & Missiles: Barack LRSAMs, developed with JV Israel, are inducted by all branches of the Armed Forces. IN now has cutting-edge ship-based & shore-based LRSAMs. DRDO is rapidly developing new missiles. And India is at an advanced stage in development and/or induction of a host of sophisticated missiles and SAMs, of all types and for all platforms, including strategic assets. They are too numerous to list here Link. 

Eg. NASM-SR & its helicopter launcher were developed and successfully tested (5/22). NASMs have high accuracy and skim at the desired 5m above water. NASM-SR can be easily adapted to launch from ships and land-based vehicles. VL-SRSAM was successfully tested from a naval ship. It is designed for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets. Long-range Ballistic Missile (submarine launched) was successfully tested from INS Arihant. These are strategic missiles. SMART (Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo) missile travels 600+km and releases a 20km torpedo near the target. It was successfully tested in December 2021. NG-MMCB, next-gen maritime mobile coastal batteries have containerised long-range missile systems such as Brahmos, SMART and SAMS. IN has inducted NG-MMCB for coastal defence. Given their versatility, they can be deployed in naval ships, merchant ships and high-mobility vehicles along the coast.

◘ Naval subsystems & technology devices: India is also developing/ has inducted a large no of naval sub-systems (eg air independent propulsion for submarines) & technology subsystems (eg sonars). They are signficant but too numerous and diverse to list Link.

◘ Shipyards: 73 out of 783 items listed on SRIJAN portal (for import substitution at 9/20), have been indigenised as of 9/22. Quality and timely delivery is satisfactory. More procurement is happening through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), where higher numbers of MSME participate in a transparent manner.

◘ Helicopters: The Navy wanted helicopters with foldable wings & twin engines. Despite delays and disagreements, a solution was reached with HAL. As a result, the Navy will induct large numbers of Dhruv MkIII (MR), naval LUH and IMRH.

HAL Dhruv has evolved into a desirable helo for IA/ IAF, as it can do high-altitude transportation, medical evacuation, disaster relief missions and be an attack helo. HAL developed the Maritime Reconnaissance and Coastal Security (MRCS) version for the Navy, including a nose-mounted surveillance radar, EO pods, high-intensity search light, heavy machine gun, anti-vibration control system, foldable wings, more powerful engines, etc. IN benefits from getting exactly what it wants and can get timely upgrades without hassle. IN was impressed and opted for HAL's naval LUH and IMRH.

◘ TEDBF: The Navy favours twin-engine medium fighters. So, it rejected the Tejas Mk2, but initiated development of a brand new twin-engine fighter. TEDBF will have indigenous weapons systems and replace Mig-29K fighters onboard INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Due to TEDBF, IN reduced orders for foreign fighters from 57 aircraft to 26. 

◘ HTT-44: IAF has contracted initial order for 70 HTT-44 basic trainers (brand new HAL designed, 80% indigenous content). IN will place orders as well.

◘ UAV: India is developing a suite of military drones, but these will take time to mature and become sophisticated. Military is eager to buy Indian drones that have shown promise. In the interim, it is buying or planning to buy proven foreign drones. Efforts are being made by DRDO, DPSUs and the private sector for developing ship-borne (NSUAS) & shore-based drones, loitering munitions & swarm drones, logistics drones, anti-drone systems and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) (AUVs & ROUVs)§ (eg. for undersea surveillance, mine clearance, seabed exploration, strike ops, etc.). IN wants to acquire high endurance AUVs for anti-submarine ops and possibly mine-related ops. MOD has approved purchases of unspecified nos of AUVs (12/22).

Foreign platforms will have Indian software so drones can be integrated with Indian systems. DRDO et al will also create state-of-art Indian sub-systems that can upgrade foreign drones (if required) to make them more lethal. §AUVs (autonomous UVs) or robots are highly automated and operate independently, while ROUVs (remotely operated UVs) are operated by humans.

Tapas-BH-201, a medium-altitude long-endurance drone (MALE), is a shore-based, armed drone developed by ADE. "It is going through the certification process and, very soon, it will be inducted into the armed forces," said ADE director Y. Dilip in April 2022. Engines are indigenous (from DRDO's VRDE lab). HAL is manufacturing 6 prototypes for final tests by August 2023. IN wants 4 out of 76. 

"Loitering munitions (LM) have revolutionised the battlefield environment," writes Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd) (5/22). IN, IA & IAF are inducting a wide variety of drones from Indian firms, from loitering munitions to swarm drones, of different ranges and types (9/21). New Indian firms have successfully tested loitering drones at 15,000ft (4/22). Tata's ALS 50 takes off like a quadcopter (vertical launch) and transitions into fixed wing mode during flight. IA bought 120 loitering munitions and 10 aerial targeting systems (range 100km) via the emergency route (11/22). IN has also acquired large quantities of loitering munitions (probably Israeli IAI HAROP).

Logistics drones, high and medium altitude types, will be purchased from Indian vendors for IA. Logistics drones are extremely useful in high mountains. Both the Armed Forces and Indian drone manufacturers are seized of this opportunity, so IN is likely to find uses.

Naval anti-drone systems (NADS) have been developed by DRDO, manufactured by BEL, and contracted by IN (9/21). The weapons have 360° coverage, radars, EO/IR sensors, and radio frequency detectors for detecting and jamming for soft kills, and laser-based mechanisms for hard kills. Indigenous drones and acquisition of Israel’s SMASH 2000 Plus (in 2020) are discussed here.

Underwater drones: L&T and Italian (Edgelab) firm have developed 3rd gen AUV called Amogh (ie. with state-of-the-art sensors, payloads, propulsion & energy source), for hydrographic/ underwater surveillance & recognition ops. L&T's Adamya (launched via submarine-torpedo tube) and Maya AUVs were displayed in DefExpo2020. L&T obtained TOT for Maya from NIOT et al in 2010. Also Youtube.

"National Institute of Ocean Technology, NIOT has developed a 6000 m depth-rated Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROUV) and various other underwater instruments." (8/22) Link. NIOT in Chennai, is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Indigenous AUVs under development: L&T and NTR are developing submarine-launched UAV, which are designed to strike ships and land targets after navigating under water for a portion of the time. Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL) has launched a program to develop an Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), a return-to-base drone configured for specific missions (eg transporter). 

Indigenous Manned UV under development (MATSYA 6000): NIOT & ISRO are developing a manned UV for exploration of ocean mineral resources and more, to depths of up to 6000m. Also in development are an "Integrated Mining Machine" and UUVs (tethered and automated). Samudrayaan mission began in 2021 and ends in 2026.