French Suffren-Class Submarine Showcases Pump-Jet Propulsion Tech in India, Could Make India's P-75 and P-76 Subs Quietest in IOR

The recent visit of the French Navy's nuclear-powered attack submarine, Suffren, to India alongside the Charles de Gaulle carrier battle group has presented a unique opportunity for technological exchange.

Beyond the display of military cooperation, France has offered India access to its cutting-edge Pump-jet propulsion technology, a key feature of the Suffren-class submarines. This technology could significantly enhance the stealth capabilities of India's future submarine fleet, including the P-75 and P-76 projects.

The Pump-jet propulsion system offers a sophisticated alternative to traditional propeller-based systems. It utilizes a pump to draw water into the submarine and expel it through a nozzle, generating thrust with significantly reduced noise levels. This enhanced stealth is crucial in modern naval warfare, where submarines rely on remaining undetected to survive and effectively carry out their missions.

The Suffren class, equipped with Pump-jet propulsion, has demonstrated exceptional quiet running capabilities, making it one of the most advanced nuclear submarines globally. This technology has caught the attention of the Indian Navy, which is actively developing its own nuclear-powered attack submarines under the P-76 and P-77 programs. These programs are central to India's ambitions to bolster its underwater combat capabilities and maintain a strategic edge in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Indian Navy have expressed keen interest in acquiring Pump-jet propulsion technology for the P-76 and P-77 programs. Its advantages in stealth, noise reduction, and propulsion efficiency align perfectly with India's evolving submarine requirements.

During the French naval delegation's visit, Indian naval officials are receiving detailed briefings and live demonstrations of the Pump-jet propulsion system. These sessions provide valuable insights into the technology's functionality and its potential integration into Indian submarine designs.

While the Indian Navy is eager to adopt Pump-jet propulsion, the path to implementation remains under discussion. Key decisions need to be made regarding whether to import the technology or pursue indigenous development.

Regardless of the chosen path, incorporating Pump-jet propulsion into India's submarine programs could significantly enhance their stealth capabilities, potentially making them the quietest and most formidable submarines in the IOR.

 

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[Nobody In here]

These endless visits by the French military are extremely suspicious because they came at a very important juncture for India's arms purchases. The French are the most cunning. They knew that India can't get access to high- end American weapons and the effectiveness of Russian weapons are being questioned, the English and Germans do not have everything of what India needs and the Israelis could only provide medium capacity arms, software, EW, drones & radar and the only option India has is France. Its not even wrong to suspect that they were clandestinely helping the Chinese develop weapons to be employed against India because a cornered and feared India will bring it under French orbit and will have no option but to run to the French for more arms purchases

 

[Vikas Yadav]

The Indian Navy is undergoing significant expansions and modernizations. Here's a breakdown of their submarine fleet:

• Kilo-class submarines: 11 total, with 8 refurbished and 3 leased from Russia, modified with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems.
• Scorpene-class submarines (P75): 9 total, with 6 ordered and 3 more to be delivered next month, featuring DRDO's AIP systems.
• German submarines (P75I): 10 total, with 6 customized Type 214 submarines from Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and MDL, and 4 existing Type 209 submarines.
• Indigenous submarines (P76): 12 planned, with participation from public and private players like L&T and Adani.
• Nuclear-powered attack submarines (Project 77): 6 planned for procurement.
• Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN): 6 total, with 4 Arihant-class and 2 S5-class submarines.
• Akula-class submarines: 2 leased from Russia.A total of 55+ submarines are planned, with 12 nuclear-powered and the rest conventionally powered.

Additionally, the Indian Navy plans to have:

• 4 aircraft carriers (Vikramaditya, Vikrant, and two more aircraft carriers (INS Vishal and INS Virat) under the pipeline.
• 145 jet fighters (45 Mig-29, 26 Rafale, 145 TEDBF) + Naval Tejas and trainer aircraft BAE Hawk, HAL HJT-16 Kiran, and the upcoming HJT-36 Sitara.
• 40 Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS)
• 200+ sea helicopters
• 9 planned MRMR - EADS C295 naval
• 12 Multi Utility Long Endurance Drone (MULE)
• 50+ patrol aircraft (Boeing P-8I, Dornier, and others)
• 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance UAVs + 50 other surveillance UAVs
• 25 air squadrons
• 200+ battleships and missile cruisers (70 under manufacturing and planned), comprising aircraft carriers, amphibious transport docks, landing ship tanks, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, large offshore patrol vessels, fleet tankers, survey ships, research vessels, training vessels, and various auxiliary vessels, Landing Craft Utility vessels, and small patrol boats.
• 2000+ cruise missiles
• A 1.5-lakh strong navy personnel

By 2030, the Indian Navy aims to become a "blue ocean navy".

Jai Hind Jai Bharat...

 

[beencensured]

These endless visits by the French military are extremely suspicious because they came at a very important juncture for India's arms purchases. The French are the most cunning. They knew that India can't get access to high- end American weapons and the effectiveness of Russian weapons are being questioned, the English and Germans do not have everything of what India needs and the Israelis could only provide medium capacity arms, software, EW, drones & radar and the only option India has is France. Its not even wrong to suspect that they were clandestinely helping the Chinese develop weapons to be employed against India because a cornered and feared India will bring it under French orbit and will have no option but to run to the French for more arms purchases

What is most disgusting is that India, having a significant proven track record in R&D, would not let our engineers and scientists solve India's problems at one-tenth of the cost, but spend an extra billion or two as commission-hungry babus would rather keep India a colony. Further compromise our nuclear submarine program by leaking crucial data of the sub to make such a system work, having forgotten Scorpene submarine leaks. This is why India remains backward and not world-class, as India has a brain drain, and countries like America desperately seek the best talent around the world to be the best and develop their country. Whereas the Indian Government seeks to be a colony, kicking highly gifted talent. This is why India faces multi-trillion dollar losses due to brain drain and used to be a country of poverty and beggars because of the non-utilization of talent for development. Lucky for India that software, an intellectual property, was difficult to put down in its development, as with the development of software there should have been hardware, but excessive taxes, irregular electricity, a host of laws and regulations render India uncompetitive, thanks to the chokehold of a greedy babus who will do anything for a commission. We Indians know what horrors would occur if Pakistan or another country wins, so we fight, but this nonsense needs to end.