Written by Group Captain Praveer Purohit (retd)
Two things spiked in India this summer: heat and election fever. With claims and counter-arguments from various political parties dominating the media, the fact that the border crisis in eastern Ladakh caused by China has ended even after four years with no signs of easing tensions with China is a matter of concern to the world. It seems to be “lost”. Election hustle and bustle. Disconcerting reports of significant naval developments in China and Pakistan were also largely dispelled by the election fever gripping India.
On April 26th, the first of eight Hangor-class submarines contracted with Pakistan. The Navy (PN) was launched in Wuhan, China. A launching ceremony is a formal custom that celebrates a ship being put to sea for the first time. The contract for these submarines was signed during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan in 2015. Four of the eight ships are being built in China and the rest in Karachi, Pakistan.The project was delayed because Germany refused to supply MTV 396 diesel The engines of these submarines. These boats (submarines are called “boats” in naval terminology) are export versions of the Chinese Navy’s Type 039 Yuan-class boats. At 76 meters long and displacing 2,800 tonnes, the Hangor-class submarine is larger than the Indian Navy’s (IN) newest Kalbari-class (Scorpene) submarine. Details of the weapons systems installed on the Hangor-class boats are not available, but it is speculated that they may be equipped with the Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), which has a range of 450 km. The submarine is equipped with an atmospheric independent propulsion (AIP) system and can remain submerged for 10 to 14 days. This will significantly strengthen the PN’s operational and “sea denial” capabilities. Recognizing the importance of AIP, the PN retrofitted three Agosta 90B submarines with AIP from 2008 to 2011. The groundbreaking ceremony for the second (sixth overall) of the four ships currently under construction in Pakistan was held in Karachi on the 14th. February. So, despite some delays, the Hangor project seems to be picking up pace.
India‘s 30-year (2000-2030) submarine construction plan envisaged the parallel construction of six conventional submarines in two over 12 years in India. This would be followed by 12 indigenously designed submarines to be built over the next 12 years. Although the plan is laudable, its implementation has been slow. The harsh reality is that Indiana currently has only 16 conventional submarines, 11 of which were commissioned between 1986 and 2000. None of Indiana’s submarines are equipped with her AIP. DRDO is reportedly working on developing an AIP, but former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash said, “It will be another seven to 10 years before India has her AIP submarines.” reportedly said. Project 75 I, which builds AIP submarines, has been plagued by unacceptable indecision and mysterious delays, negatively impacting our nation’s advanced defense management.
Just recently, China sailed its third (and largest) aircraft carrier Fujian for sea trials on May 1st. The ship will be launched in 2022 and has a displacement of approximately 80,000 tons. Equipped with the most advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), the Chinese Navy (PLAN) is her second navy with this capability after the United States Navy. Fujian is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2025 and early 2026 and will strengthen the PLAN’s power projection capabilities. The Pentagon’s 2023 annual report on China’s military estimates that the Chinese Navy’s submarine fleet will grow from 60 ships now to about 80 ships by 2035. Chinese People’s Liberation Army submarines are increasingly making inroads into the Indian Ocean. An analysis of vast amounts of shipping data by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shows that the Indian Ocean has become one of the largest areas for Chinese maritime research, collecting important undersea data that can be applied to submarine warfare. It became clear that there was. The so-called Chinese “research vessels” have deep ties to the Chinese military and, under the guise of “civilian activities,” are engaged in extensive mapping of the Indian Ocean’s ocean floor, ocean currents, salinity, and other elements critical to submarine warfare. . . PLAN is also keen to develop suitable underwater capabilities in the form of unmanned undersea vessels (UUVs) and sensors. China has made no bones about its intentions to project maritime power into the Indian Ocean and is doing so intensively.
Recent naval developments in the PN and PLAN should not be considered in isolation from each other. Given the strong ties and cooperation between China and Pakistan, the integration of the PLAN and the PN could pose significant obstacles to the IN. It is bad enough that budget allocations for defense in general and the navy in particular are low. Making matters worse is the snail-like pace of acquisitions and the postponement of key decisions such as Project 75 I and her third aircraft carrier. The government should act on the wise advice of Admiral Arun Prakash, who recommended collaborating with France in building a next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Recently, despite the Indian Navy’s stellar operational performance, changes to uniforms and customs under the misguided guise of “decolonization” seemed to be attracting inevitable headlines. The new Secretary of the Navy has rightly articulated the centrality and focus of operations. He has been terminated from his mission. Since no major decisions can be expected during the election period, During the season, they will have to wait until a new government is formed after the elections. The new government must tackle China’s challenges with an “Arjun-like” focus. Claiming that “everything is fine” may sound fine in Bollywood But it appears hollow in the face of the strategic challenge posed by China. A lot of time is lost in grandstanding and chest-pounding. There is no room for arrogance and we need to learn from the ancient Greek myth that “arrogance brings nemesis.”
The author is a former IAF officer with extensive operational experience and was also involved in joint planning of operations. He has also served in the Indian Navy.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproduction of this content without permission is prohibited.
