It is Akula Class Submarine, highly regarded in US Naval Circles for its stealth in the water. INS Chakra is more of a Shark in Underwater.
The SSBN is solely used in strategic attacks. On a regular basis, the submarine goes into the waters and takes an undetected position in state of a nuclear attack. Usually, two crew members are placed in the operation of the submarine, where one member takes it into the waters and the other member is situated at the ports.
It is considered to be the ‘killer’ in the submarine world. It does go under water for a long period of time i.e. nearly half a year. During its time in the sea, the submarine avoids all contact and being detected by any other submarines or surface ships.
The ballistic missile submarines differ in their purpose to attack other submarines and cruise missile submarines. They specialize in combat with other naval vessels, which include enemy submarines and merchant shipping. They are also designed to attack large warships and tactical targets on land. The primary mission of the ballistic missile is nuclear detection and the mission profile of this submarine is to remain undetected. They are designed for stealth, many use sound-reducing design features, to have propulsion systems, and have machinery mounted on the vibration damping mounts.
The SSN are designed to track down and defeat both, the SSBN and the enemy aggression. They can also very easily detect any surface warheads with the help of the cruise missiles. These submarines also are used in the attack of particular targets on land by the launch of the fast missiles by use of the torpedo tubes.
Unlike conventional submarines that India operates which need to surface to charge their batteries often – sometimes as frequently as 24 hours-INS Chakra can stay under water as long as it wants.Its ability to stay underwater is restrained only by human endurance to Stay Underwater. INS Chakra has been taken on lease from Russia for 10 years and would provide the Navy the opportunity to train personnel and operate such nuclear-powered vessels.
The Akula Class submarine will carry conventional weapons. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes. It will be used to hunt and kill enemy ships.
The INS Chakra displaces about 10,000 tons. It can do over 30 knots – more than twice the speed of conventional submarines. It can go upto a depth of 600 metres.INS Chakra is the largest submarine in the Indian navy followed by INS Arihant which displaces around 6,000 tons.
INS Chakra is one of the quietest nuclear submarines around, with noise levels next to zero.
The Submarine has about 80 crew members on board with 31 officers.The en tire crew of INS Chakra has been trained in Russia for over a year.Crew are provided with many facilities which include a large recreation area,a gymnasium and a sauna as well.
The INS Chakra is powered by 190 MW OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactor, steam turbine with 43,000 hp,2 auxiliary electric engines capable of producing 410 hp each and 2 auxiliary diesel engines capable of producing 750 hp each.It has endurance of 100 days.
The Akula Class submarine will carry conventional weapons. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and fourx650mm torpedo tubes.The submarine has capable og storing up to 40 more torpedoes/mines/missiles which includes the Klub-S family of tactical missiles – 3M14E land-attack cruise missile, 3M-54E anti-ship, and 91RE1 anti-submarine variants.It will be used to hunt and kill enemy ships.
INS Chakra is a nuclear submarine, nuclear submarine doesn’t have to come to surface after every few days to charge its battery. INS Chakra can stay underwater for 100 days.
India’s journey to commission INS Chakra ::
India first leased a Charlie-class Soviet nuclear-powered submarine from 1988-91.
After the Soviet Union’s breakup, India expressed interest in leasing the Nerpa, an incomplete Akula-class submarine lying at Russia’s Amur shipyard.
India paid around $1 billion to lease the submarine for a 10-year period, following which the submarine’s construction with modern armaments was completed.
The Indian Navy commissioned the Nerpa, rechristened Chakra, in 2012.
What role does INS Chakra play for Indian Navy?
Nuclear attack submarines such as the Chakra were traditionally primarily tasked with hunting nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines.
They can take out other submarines and warships. They also protect and escort friendly ballistic-missile submarines and warships.
Unlike conventionally-powered diesel-electric submarines, their endurance is not hindered by the need for regular refueling, allowing them to operate for months far away from home-ports.
India looking to lease another Akula-II submarine from Russia ::
The Chakra was commissioned before India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arihant.
The Chakra has been crucial for training Indian submariners who would form the crew of the Arihant and all subsequent indigenous nuclear submarines.
India is also reportedly looking to lease another Akula-class submarine from Russia to compliment the Chakra.
Besides this, India is developing six new indigenous nuclear attack submarines.
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