Russia offers to Jointly develop Nuclear Attack Submarines with India

Russian shipbuilders have offered to help India, design and develop jointly countries first Generation class of Nuclear Attack Submarines to be developed locally in India. A government of India has approved in recent years, the Indian Navy’s proposal to develop Six Attack nuclear Submarines and the project is at an advanced stage of the design phase.

Russians have made it a conditional offer and have linked their offer, only if India agrees for a government to government deal for procurement of Six next Generation conventional submarines under Project-75I project instead of the current open tender where already four foreign vendors have submitted their offer for the submarine already to India.

The Amur-class submarine (named for the Amur River), is one of the latest Russian submarine designs. It is advertised as an export version of the Lada-class, a modernised version of the Kilo-class submarine with improved acoustic stealth, new combat systems, and an option for air-independent propulsion (AIP).

These submarines are distinguished by the capability of firing up to 6 missiles simultaneously against sea and coastal targets, state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems and a sonar with a unique passive antenna to detect silent targets at a large range. Acoustic signature of the Amur 1650 submarine is several times lower compared to Kilo class submarines which are currently considered to be the most silent in the world.

The new vessels are the fourth generation of the Kilo submarine family, with two models developed.

India operates Sindhughosh Class Submarines which are based on Kilo class submarines. Indian Navy has lot of experience in operating and maintaining Russian origin submarines.

Rubin also plans to assist India in the creation of air-independent power plant for Amur-1650 in the framework of 75I tender. “We are sure that the Indian Navy would work to install its own power plant. We are ready to help integrate the Indian plant or assist in its creation of AIP

Russia in past has provided assistance to the Advanced Technology Vessel Project under which Arihant Class nuclear Ballistic missile submarines were developed by India, Current offer on Nuclear Attack Submarine Joint venture is much more in detail and is not limited to only design and component level consultation like in the past and involves sharing of more advanced technologies and direct input in submarine design and development as per media reports.