Shishumar-class submarine

INS Shishumar enters Port of Duqm, Oman.
Class overview
NameShishumar class
Builders
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded byVela class
Succeeded byKalvari class
Cost€300 million each[1]
In commission1986–present
Planned6
Completed4
Cancelled2
Active4
General characteristics [2]
TypeAttack submarine
Displacement
  • 1,450 t (1,427 long tons) standard
  • 1,660 t (1,634 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,850 t (1,821 long tons) submerged
Length64.4 m (211 ft 3 in)
Beam6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Draught6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Propulsion
  • 4 × MTU 12V 493 AZ80 GA31L diesel-electric motors, 2,400 hp (1,790 kW) each
  • 1 × Siemens motor, 4,600 hp (3,430 kW)
  • 4 × 1.8 MW Siemens alternators
  • 1 shaft
Speed
  • 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced
  • 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
  • 13,000 nmi (24,000 km; 15,000 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement40 (8 officers)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Atlas Elektronik CSU 83 sonar
  • Thomson Sintra DUUX-5 passive sonar
  • Thomson-CSF Calypso surface search radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Argo Phoenix II AR 700 or Kollmorgen Sea Sentry
  • C 303 acoustic decoys
Armament

The Shishumar-class submarines are diesel-electric attack submarines, currently in active service with the Indian Navy. These submarines are an Indian variant[4] of the Type 209 submarines developed by the German yard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft under the internal designation "Type 1500". The first two vessels were built by HDW at Kiel, Germany, while the remainder were built by Mazagon Dock Limited, at Mumbai, India, under a technology transfer agreement.[5] The submarines were commissioned between 1986 and 1994. These submarines have a displacement of 1,660 tons when surfaced, a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph), and a complement of 40 including eight officers.

The Shishumar class is unique among Type 209s for having an IKL-designed integrated escape sphere. The sphere has accommodations for the entire crew with an eight-hour air supply.[6][7]

History

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India signed the agreement for these submarines with Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) on 11 December 1981. The agreement called for building of two submarines in West Germany, the supply of knocked-down kits for assembling two more submarines in Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), and training for construction and logistics services. An agreement was announced in 1984 for the construction of two additional submarines in MDL, but was subsequently cancelled due to economic crisis in the late 1980s.[2] The four submarines that were finally built form the 10th submarine squadron based at Mumbai.[3]

Mid Life Upgrade

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The Indian Navy awarded a $151 million contract for mid-life upgrade and certification of INS Shishumar in 2018. The refit was carried out by MDL at Mumbai with technical cooperation from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.[8][9] The refit was planned to be completed by 2021 with a similar upgrade for another vessel of Shishumar-class submarine to follow. [8] The ship was expected to be delivered by 2021 but owing to Covid-19 delays the ship will now be delivered to the Indian Navy in August 2023.[10]

Similarly, a second mid-life upgrade contract was awarded to the Mazagon Dock for refit and life certification of the 2nd submarine Shankush on 30 June 2023. The completion date of mid-life upgrade and certification is 2026. The total estimated cost to be around ₹2,725 crore (US$330 million).[11]

Total 3 ships out of 4 will undergo mid-life refit and certification, this will extend the life of the submarine by 10–15 years.[10]

One of the submarine participated in Exercise Malabar 2024 which was held from 8 to 18 October.[12]

Two of these submarines were deployed alongside INS Vikrant along with 7 frontline warships and 4 submarines (Kalvari class and Sindhughosh class) on 7 November 2024. The operations included carrier operations of MiG-29K, missile firing drills, submarine manoeuvres and flypasts by 30 aircraft demonstrated to the President of India Droupadi Murmu who was present on board INS Vikrant.[13][14][15]

Ships of the class

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Name Pennant Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Upgrade Homeport Note
 Indian Navy
Shishumar S44 Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft 1 May 1982 13 December 1984 22 September 1986 2018 — 2023[8][10] Mumbai [2]
Shankush S45 1 September 1982 11 May 1984 20 November 1986 2023 — 2026[11] [2]
Shalki S46 Mazagon Dock 5 June 1984 30 September 1989 7 February 1992 — [2]
Shankul S47 3 September 1989 21 March 1992 28 May 1994 — [2]

Commissions received during the order

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In a July 2005 interview with NDTV, V. P. Singh said that in 1987, while he was a minister, he had received a telegram from the Indian ambassador in Germany with the information that Indian agents had received large illegal commissions in the HDW submarine deal.[16] Singh informed the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi about this and instituted an enquiry. Subsequently, this led to differences and Singh decided to resign from the cabinet.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Greek submarine scandal and HDW". www.sites.tufts.edu. World peace foundation. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Commodore Stephen Saunders, ed. (2004). "India". Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005 (107th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. p. 305. ISBN 978-0710626233.
  3. ^ a b Gady, Franz-Stefan (14 July 2016). "Germany to Upgrade Two Indian Attack Submarines". The Diplomat.
  4. ^ The Indian Strategic Nuclear Submarine Project An Open Literature Analysis
  5. ^ Nair-Ghaswalla, Amrita (2 December 2015). "ThyssenKrupp bullish on defence sector". The Hindu Business Line.
  6. ^ ARG. "Shishumar Class Patrol Submarine - Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Shishumar Class".
  8. ^ a b c "Germany's Thyssenkrupp to refit Indian Navy submarine INS Shishumar". 26 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  9. ^ "India's Mazagon Dock, Germany's Thyssenkrupp Bag $151M Worth Indian Navy Submarines Refit Contract". DefenseWorld.net. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Peri, Dinaker (1 July 2023). "Submarine INS Shankush to undergo life extension at MDL under ₹2,725-crore contract". The Hindu.
  11. ^ a b "MoD signs a contract of Rs. 2725 Cr with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd for Medium Refit with Life Certification of Submarine INS Shankush". PIB (Press release). 30 June 2023.
  12. ^ "CLOSING CEREMONY OF MALABAR 2024". Press Information Bureau. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  13. ^ "President Droupadi Murmu witnesses Indian Navy operations onboard INS Vikrant". The Times of India. 7 November 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  14. ^ "President Murmu witnesses Indian Navy's demonstration on INS Vikrant". India Today. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  15. ^ @ANI (7 November 2024). "Indian Navy today showcased six of its conventional submarines at the capability demonstration to President Draupadi Murmu during her visit to the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at sea..." (Tweet). Retrieved 8 November 2024 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ Gupta, Shekhar (1 July 2005). "Walk the talk - an interview with V.P.Singh". NDTV. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  17. ^ "India charges 6 over submarine kickbacks". New York Times. 7 March 1990. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
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