Page 214 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

Corvettes

The Indian Navy currently operates the Kora, Khukri, Veer and Abhay class corvettes. The next-
generation Project 28 and Project 28A class of corvettes are expected to be commissioned, starting
some time during 2014. The Navy also plans to introduce stealthy vessels that can be modified

according to mission requirements.

Fleet tankers

The Indian Navy currently operates five replenishment tankers and one has been launched. They are
the Jyoti Class Tankers, INS Aditya and the new Deepak class fleet tankers. The Deepak class tankers
will be the mainstay of the replenishment fleet until the 1st half of the 21st century.

Submarines

The Indian Navy operates a sizable fleet of Sindhughosh and Shishumar class submarines. India has

started construction of six Scorpène class submarines. These submarines will have air-independent
propulsion. These submarines will join the Indian Navy starting from the second half of 2015. India
issued a request for information for another six submarines in 2011.

In 1988, India acquired an ex-Soviet Charlie class nuclear powered guided missile submarine with
eight Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) anti-ship missile launchers on a 3-year lease. In the Indian Navy,
the vessel was commissioned as INS Chakra, and the submarine was manned by an Indian crew. Upon
expiration of the lease term in 1991, the submarine was returned to Russia and joined the Pacific

Fleet of the Russian Navy.

India paid US$2 billion for the completion of two Akula-II class submarines which were 40-60%
completed. Three hundred Indian Navy personnel were trained in Russia for the operation of these
submarines. India has finalized a deal with Russia, in which at the end of the lease of these
submarines, it has an option to buy them. The first submarine is named INS Chakra and was handed
over to India on 23 January 2012. India’s indigenously designed and built nuclear-powered ballistic
missile submarines of the Arihant class are expected to be commissioned starting some time during
2014. The lead vessel of the class, INS Arihant, was launched for sea-trials on 26 July 2009 at

Visakhapatnam and is likely to go for another round of extensive sea trials in Feb-Mar 2014, post
which it is likely to be inducted and deployed.

Naval Air Arm

The naval air arm is an important component of the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy air arm consists of
Sea Harrier jets that operate from the aircraft carrier INS Viraat. The Kamov-31 provides the

Airborne Early Warning Cover for the fleet. In the anti-submarine role the Sea King, KA-28 and the