Unveiling India's Underwater Might: Hydrodynamic Testing Shapes the Future of Nuclear Submarines

The recent visit of Vice Admiral Srinivas Kalidoss (Retd), Director General of the Advanced Technology Vessel Programme (ATVP), to the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam highlights the significant strides India is making in its underwater defense capabilities.

His inspection of hydrodynamic test models sheds light on the meticulous engineering and innovation underpinning India's naval ambitions, particularly within its nuclear submarine program.

The Science of Submarine Design​

Hydrodynamic test models are essential tools in submarine development. They allow engineers to simulate and analyze how different hull designs and configurations perform under various underwater conditions.

Factors like speed, maneuverability, stability, and noise reduction are all crucial elements that hydrodynamic testing helps refine. The result – submarines optimized for performance and operational success.

Beyond Replicas: Models and India's Nuclear Ambitions​

While these hydrodynamic models offer valuable insights, it's crucial to note they are not exact blueprints of the sophisticated submarines India is developing within its nuclear deterrent strategy.

The S4 and S5 SSBNs (Ballistic Missile Nuclear Submarines), in particular, are far more complex. These vessels are the cornerstone of India's Nuclear Triad, designed to operate across vast distances – a testament to India's technological prowess and strategic goals.

The Strategic Context​

The S4 and S5 SSBNs are a testament to India's commitment to a robust nuclear deterrent and maintaining strategic stability in the region. Their development reflects the evolving security landscape and India's resolve to meet potential challenges.

Hydrodynamic test models, while just one piece of this puzzle, are integral to ensuring these submarines possess the performance capabilities necessary to fulfill their critical role.

India's Naval Modernization​

The insights gained from hydrodynamic testing and the broader submarine development program contribute to India's ambitious naval modernization efforts.

As a major regional power, India is investing heavily in advanced naval capabilities to secure its maritime interests and maintain its strategic position.

Conclusion​

Vice Admiral Srinivas Kalidoss' visit to NSTL underscores the importance India places on its submarine force. The hydrodynamic models represent the scientific rigor and dedication behind developing submarines optimized for the nation's needs.

Within a larger context of nuclear strategy and naval modernization, these submarines are a crucial component in safeguarding India's security and shaping its role in the Indo-Pacific region.

 

[Anant]

Looks to be models of the stretched Arihant-, and S5-classes along with a sail-less submarine? Maybe the latter is a larger scale model of a UUV?

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

I talked with a research scholar recently who had been invited to arihant and arighat to test his sensor. Apparently, the russian nuclear power plant used to power the sub has some issues with the cooling system. It needs replacement every year. So this guy was asked to design a sensor which can detec when the coolimg system needs maintenance so that the sub does not habe emergency while at sea. He was unsuccessful but it shows how important domestic R&D is,and how unreliable foreign partners can be.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Looks to be models of the stretched Arihant-, and S5-classes along with a sail-less submarine? Maybe the latter is a larger scale model of a UUV?

I dont think it is a drone. Visit was focused towards future submarine research

 

[Anant]

I dont think it is a drone. Visit was focused towards future submarine research

Perhaps, but that last submarine model is either of a significantly larger scale than the others (which doesn't seem likely given the size of the rudder), or is a hull without a sail. If it is the latter, then it would almost certainly be a UUV. Do remember that MDL is building a prototype UUV, and the Navy has stated that they do require a few large UUVs that can act independently or can be used to ferry underwater teams to crucial objectives.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Perhaps, but that last submarine model is either of a significantly larger scale than the others (which doesn't seem likely given the size of the rudder), or is a hull without a sail. If it is the latter, then it would almost certainly be a UUV. Do remember that MDL is building a prototype UUV, and the Navy has stated that they do require a few large UUVs that can act independently or can be used to ferry underwater teams to crucial objectives.

Yeah, but this is a navy facility. As far as I know, navy is not working on naval drones itself, but rather it has outsourced to startups and other PSUs. Navy's inhouse design bureau works on all naval ship and sub projects

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Glad they are moving on to something, albeit slowly.
Hope future progress will be faster.
The thing i like about Navy's progress is, rhey make slow yet steady progress and it involves much less hot air than what HAL throws IAF's way.

 

[INDIAN]

Efforts should be first have enough conventional submarines, indigenous fifth generation fighter planes , armed drones , armed under water UUV's , nuclear submarine should come but at last.
And we have non but we are spending our efforts on those which will be used mostly never.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

The thing i like about Navy's progress is, rhey make slow yet steady progress and it involves much less hot air than what HAL throws IAF's way.

HAL throws hot air on IAF but IAF gives out equally hot air back to it.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

HAL throws hot air on IAF but IAF gives out equally hot air back to it.

Yeah, they both love exchanging farts.

Something to do with "Birds of feather, flock togather".

 

[Rational Guy]

I talked with a research scholar recently who had been invited to arihant and arighat to test his sensor. Apparently, the russian nuclear power plant used to power the sub has some issues with the cooling system. It needs replacement every year. So this guy was asked to design a sensor which can detec when the coolimg system needs maintenance so that the sub does not habe emergency while at sea. He was unsuccessful but it shows how important domestic R&D is,and how unreliable foreign partners can be.

Those both use a BARC reactor that was ripped off of Russian reactors.

 

[Axiss]

Efforts should be first have enough conventional submarines, indigenous fifth generation fighter planes , armed drones , armed under water UUV's , nuclear submarine should come but at last.
And we have non but we are spending our efforts on those which will be used mostly never.

To be fair, Nuclear subs are the only thing we need to complete the nuclear triad. It's not useless.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Those both use a BARC reactor that was ripped off of Russian reactors.

well, russians helped out India for those reactors. Apparently you can find russian guys there permanently.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

well, russians helped out India for those reactors. Apparently you can find russian guys there permanently.

From what I learned early on , when following the Arihant project, the Russians were not exactly suportive of our effort at copying their reactor design.

Russians were so bummed up they even had their own personnels up on guard around the first submarine leased in 1990s, the INS Chakra, lest the Indians copy their reactors.

Probably enough money was poured down the Russian coffers to calm them down by the time Arihant came around.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Apparently, the russian nuclear power plant used to power the sub has some issues with the cooling system.

Apparently, poor state of technological advancement in a country which thinks it is still USSR, but has to make do with an economy the size of Mexico.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

From what I learned early on , when following the Arihant project, the Russians were not exactly suportive of our effort at copying their reactor design.

Russians were so bummed up they even had their own personnels up on guard around the first submarine leased in 1990s, the INS Chakra, lest the Indians copy their reactors.

Probably enough money was poured down the Russian coffers to calm them down by the time Arihant came around.

i dont know the origins that you are talking about, but I know that presently, Indians and russians are collaborating. Details of this deal are quite secret, but India must have paid dearly to russia for this collaboration. It is ok, since no other country was willing to share nuclear submarine tech to India.

 

[Sandeep]

I talked with a research scholar recently who had been invited to arihant and arighat to test his sensor. Apparently, the russian nuclear power plant used to power the sub has some issues with the cooling system. It needs replacement every year. So this guy was asked to design a sensor which can detec when the coolimg system needs maintenance so that the sub does not habe emergency while at sea. He was unsuccessful but it shows how important domestic R&D is,and how unreliable foreign partners can be.

That is absolute rubbish and either you or that scholar is lying. The nuclear plant on all of our nuclear submarines have been 100% indigenously designed and manufactured in India. There's no foreign parts at all and nuclear submarines are the most strategic and valuable piece of technology and capability that any country would want but it's difficult and expensive to develop. At most we simply asked Russia's input and to consult but all they do is advise but never to design or develop it for us.

 

[Sandeep]

Those both use a BARC reactor that was ripped off of Russian reactors.

No the reactors we use has been designed and developed by us 100% indigenously. We only asked Russia to consult and advise sometimes but they would never draw or develop it for us.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

i dont know the origins that you are talking about, but I know that presently, Indians and russians are collaborating. Details of this deal are quite secret, but India must have paid dearly to russia for this collaboration. It is ok, since no other country was willing to share nuclear submarine tech to India.

Don't forget that the French are now in the game too.

 

[Sandeep]

i dont know the origins that you are talking about, but I know that presently, Indians and russians are collaborating. Details of this deal are quite secret, but India must have paid dearly to russia for this collaboration. It is ok, since no other country was willing to share nuclear submarine tech to India.

There is no collaboration between India and Russia in designing or developing nuclear reactors that we use in our nuclear submarines. At best they simply gave some advice but they didn't design or make any of the parts, equipment, components or technology for us.

It would be fair to say the general concept of our reactors was based on Russian developed reactors and we reverse engineered it after studying the first nuclear submarines we leased from Russia.

 

[NSR]

I talked with a research scholar recently who had been invited to arihant and arighat to test his sensor. Apparently, the russian nuclear power plant used to power the sub has some issues with the cooling system. It needs replacement every year. So this guy was asked to design a sensor which can detec when the coolimg system needs maintenance so that the sub does not habe emergency while at sea. He was unsuccessful but it shows how important domestic R&D is,and how unreliable foreign partners can be.

Such information about nuclear submarines is definitely classified SUPER SECRET.
Any revealations of such information will be prosecuted and jailed for a long time.
How did he even open his mouth?

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Such information about nuclear submarines is definitely classified SUPER SECRET.
Any revealations of such information will be prosecuted and jailed for a long time.
How did he even open his mouth?

I had specifically asked this question to him. And he confirmed that it was not classified. security measures are very strict. He had to surrender his electronic devices for few days, and navy guy went through everything. He was not alone, navy had invited multiple others there. He was not made to sign any secrecy agreement.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Don't forget that the French are now in the game too.

Yeah,, but those are conventional subs

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

There is no collaboration between India and Russia in designing or developing nuclear reactors that we use in our nuclear submarines. At best they simply gave some advice but they didn't design or make any of the parts, equipment, components or technology for us.

It would be fair to say the general concept of our reactors was based on Russian developed reactors and we reverse engineered it after studying the first nuclear submarines we leased from Russia.

What you are saying might be true, but I know for sure that russians are currently involved in our nuclear ballistic submarine project.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

That is absolute rubbish and either you or that scholar is lying. The nuclear plant on all of our nuclear submarines have been 100% indigenously designed and manufactured in India. There's no foreign parts at all and nuclear submarines are the most strategic and valuable piece of technology and capability that any country would want but it's difficult and expensive to develop. At most we simply asked Russia's input and to consult but all they do is advise but never to design or develop it for us.

Dude, I have no reason to lie. That research scholar had visited the base, and he went on multiple subs. He was accompanied by others as well. He confirmed seeing russians there and he told me that the reactor is based on russian tech. Whether we reverse engineered it, stole it, bought it, that I dont know

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Such information about nuclear submarines is definitely classified SUPER SECRET.
Any revealations of such information will be prosecuted and jailed for a long time.
How did he even open his mouth?

He could not take pics, nor did he take back any data. Anything he can say, is of no strategic value to our enemies.

 

[NSR]

He could not take pics, nor did he take back any data. Anything he can say, is of no strategic value to our enemies.

Worked in classified areas for three decades so it is deadly sin to talk at all.
It gives our enemies clues about shortcomings of a nuclear submarine.
Not impressed at all.

 

[Sandeep]

It will take time to design and develop brand new nuclear submarines and on average it takes about 6-8 years just to design it and almost the same time to manufacture it unless it's a copy.

India has already got the first two Arihant submarines in service which are ideal to keep Pakistan in check as the longest range missile we can use is the K4 which gives us about a 4000km range which keeps our submarine out of range of anything that Pakistan can deploy.

The last 2 Arihant submarines are larger and longer so that we can install much longer range missiles which would be ideal to use against China as it can use the K5 which gives it a range of around 6000km.

The main submarines we need are at least 6 S5 class submarines which are double the size of the Arihant class submarines. This will give us the capability to hold and launch more longer range missiles which don't place our submarines too close to China. These are the type of submarines that we will need to meet future threats which will increase so we shouldn't build anymore Arihant submarines and they should be eventually retired in about 30+ years.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Worked in classified areas for three decades so it is deadly sin to talk at all.
It gives our enemies clues about shortcomings of a nuclear submarine.
Not impressed at all.

Shortcoming of military equipment is commonly discussed. Eg. Fighter having faulty engines, or missiles having accuracy issues, stealth aircraft haveing shoddy stealth. When you get into specifics and hard data, that is when it becomes dangerous. Just talking about classified stuff is not taboo, discussing classified stuff about classified stuff is wrong. I hope ypu get the difference

 

[NSR]

Shortcoming of military equipment is commonly discussed. Eg. Fighter having faulty engines, or missiles having accuracy issues, stealth aircraft haveing shoddy stealth. When you get into specifics and hard data, that is when it becomes dangerous. Just talking about classified stuff is not taboo, discussing classified stuff about classified stuff is wrong. I hope ypu get the difference

No, I do not get it as it is not acceptable practice when it comes to Nuclear Submarines.
You also mentioned the names of specific nuclear submarines INS Arihant and INS Arighat, a BIG NO NO.
Goodbye.