Project 77-class submarine
{{Short description|Indian class of nuclear-attack submarines under development}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2020}}
{{For|the conventional-attack submarine programme|Project 75I-class submarine}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | image = | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Project 77 | Builders = Ship Building Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam | Operators = {{navy|India}} (Planned) | Class after = | In commission range = 2036 (planned) | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = *2 cleared
| Total ships completed = | Total ships active = 0 | Total ships laid up = | Cost = *{{INRConvert|1.2|lc|lk=lc|year=2020}} total cost
| year=2024}} for two.
}} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Nuclear attack submarine | Ship displacement = {{convert|10,000|t|lk=on}} | Ship length = | Ship beam = | Ship height = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = * 1 × CLWR-B2 (Compact light-water reactor) {{cvt|190|MW|HP}}
| Ship speed = | Ship range = Unlimited except by food supplies | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship complement = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = Varunastra heavyweight torpedo, Nirbhay, BrahMos and BrahMos-II land-attack/anti-ship cruise missiles | Ship notes = }} |
Project 77 (formerly Project 75 Alpha) is an Indian Navy acquisition programme to procure nuclear-powered attack submarines.{{Cite news|last=Bhattacharjee|first=Sumit|date=2020-12-04|title=INS Vikrant may be inducted by 2022-23, says ENC Chief|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ins-vikrant-may-be-inducted-by-2022-23-says-enc-chief/article33243875.ece|access-date=2020-12-04|issn=0971-751X}} The Government of India, through the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), approved the construction of six of these submarines in February 2015.{{cite news |date=18 February 2015 |title=Government clears construction of 7 stealth frigates, 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/government-clears-construction-of-7-stealth-frigates-6-nuclear-powered-attack-submarines/articleshow/46282586.cms?from=mdr |access-date=19 April 2015 |newspaper=The Economic Times}} These will be designed by the Navy's in-house Directorate of Naval Design (now Warship Design Bureau) and built in India at the Ship Building Centre at Visakhapatnam. The construction was expected to commence on 2023-24 while the first submarine is expected to enter service in 2032. However, further and final clearance for initially acquiring 2 nuclear submarines, under the Project 77, was approved by CCS on 10 October 2024.
Since India is a traditional user of Russian nuclear submarines (with INS Chakra on lease) the new domestically built submarines would be third class of SSN operated by Indian navy after leased Charlie I and Akula II-class submarines.{{cite magazine|url=http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/watch-out-china-india-building-6-nuclear-attack-submarines-12276|title=Watch Out, China: India Is Building 6 Nuclear Attack Submarines|magazine=The National Interest|date=18 February 2015|access-date=19 April 2015}}{{cite news |title=India finalizing plans to order three more Scorpene submarines |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-finalizing-plans-to-order-three-more-Scorpene-submarines/articleshow/50035641.cms |website=The Times of India |date=4 December 2015 |access-date=2015-12-04}}
Development
The program to construct and deploy a fleet of nuclear submarines was first envisaged in late 1990s. Patrolling by People's Liberation Army Navy ships further fast-tracked India's naval expansion programmes. As per the initial plan, first 4 Arihant class submarines and later much larger S5 class nuclear ballistic missile submarines, and 6 nuclear attack submarines were planned.{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20171218-india-ballistic-missile-submarine-k-6-submarine-launched-drdo-1102085-2017-12-10|title=A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines|last1=Unnithan|first1=Sandeep|date=10 December 2017|work=India Today|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420153439/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20171218-india-ballistic-missile-submarine-k-6-submarine-launched-drdo-1102085-2017-12-10|archive-date=20 April 2019|language=en}}
The submarines will be powered by a miniature pressurised water reactor (PWR) being developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre which has already supplied a similar 83 MW miniature reactor for the Arihant-class submarine SSBNs.
On 24 June 2019, it was reported that {{INRConvert|100|c}} have been allocated for the initial phase of the project. The submarines will be designed by Directorate of Naval Design (now called Warship Design Bureau) and the development is expected to continue till 2025. Mishra Dhatu Nigam is developing a new non magnetic hull material that is expected to allow the submarine to dive to deeper depths than {{sclass|Arihant|submarine|4}}. A scaled down model of the submarine is planned to be tested first. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around {{INRConvert|1|lc|lk=on|year=2020}}.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/work-begins-on-indias-next-gen-nuclear-powered-submarines/articleshow/69921014.cms|title=Work begins on India's next gen nuclear-powered submarines|last=Pubby|first=Manu|date=2019-06-24|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-07-02|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624164324/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/work-begins-on-indias-next-gen-nuclear-powered-submarines/articleshow/69921014.cms|archive-date=24 June 2019}}
In February 2020, The Economic Times reported that the preliminary design phase of the programme has been successfully completed. The report stated that Submarine Design Group of the Directorate of Naval Design, assisted by the DRDO, will now start working on the detailed design and construction phase of the programme.{{Cite news|last=Pubby|first=Manu|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indias-rs-1-2-l-cr-n-submarine-project-closer-to-realisation/articleshow/74234776.cms|title=India's Rs 1.2 lakh crore nuclear submarine project closer to realisation|date=2020-02-21|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-02-23}}
As of March 2021, it was reported that the Indian Navy has prioritised the construction of Project 77 submarines over a planned third aircraft carrier.{{Cite news|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=2021-03-24|title=For Navy, 6 nuclear-powered submarines take priority over 3rd aircraft carrier|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/for-navy-6-nuclear-powered-submarines-take-priority-over-3rd-aircraft-carrier-101616564522467.html|newspaper=The Hindustan Times|access-date=2021-04-02}} Later it was announced that initially, three submarines will be cleared in 2023-24 while the remaining three will get clearance later. The first boat was expected to roll out in 2032.{{Cite news| date=2023-03-18|title=Project-77 (formerly Project-75 Alpha): India may reduce number of SSN to 3, from planned 6 initially|url=https://theigmp.org/project-77-project-75-alpha-india-may-reduce-ssn-number/|website=IgMp|access-date=2023-03-19}}{{Cite news|last=Pandit|first=Rajat|date=2021-03-31|title=Project to build N-powered attack subs set to get CCS nod|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/project-to-build-n-powered-attack-subs-set-to-get-ccs-nod/articleshow/81770216.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=2021-04-02}} The ship class will have a final design clearance in Gurugram by Submarine Design Group, its nuclear reactor will be built in Kalpakkam, hull fabrication will be undertaken by Larsen & Toubro at Hazira and finally assembly and sea trials will be conducted by the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.{{Cite news|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=2021-04-17|title=India's nuclear sharks|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/20210426-india-s-nuclear-sharks-1791817-2021-04-17|newspaper=India Today|location=New Delhi|access-date=2021-05-21}}
As of August 2024, a report suggested that the first batch of Project 77 class will have 2 submarines, while 4 more will be cleared in a later phase. The final clearance for the 1st Batch worth {{INRConvert|40000|c}} is expected to be received "soon" from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).{{Cite news |date=2024-08-11 |title=India 'fully ready' to add to fleet 2nd submarine with nuclear-tipped missiles |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-fully-ready-to-add-to-fleet-2nd-sub-with-n-tipped-missiles/articleshow/112433199.cms |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite news |date=2024-08-11 |title=India set to commission its second nuclear-missile submarine |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-set-to-commission-its-second-nuclear-missile-submarine/articleshow/112438432.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}
On 9 October 2024, the CCS cleared the project worth {{INRConvert|40000|c|lk=on|year=2024}} to construct 2 nuclear attack submarines for the Indian Navy. The submarines shall be built at Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam and will include major private sector firms including Larsen & Toubro.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Centre clears deal to build 2 nuclear submarines, purchase 31 predator drones |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nuclear-submarine-deal-centre-31-us-predator-drone-indian-army-navy-2614341-2024-10-09 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=India Today |language=en}} According to reports, the first submarine will take 10-12 years to be launched with a 190 MW pressurised light-water reactor and a displacement of almost 10,000-tonnes. The maximum speed will be over {{Convert|30|kn|abbr=on}}. The submarines will feature an indigenous content of 95% and foreign assistance will include design consultancy only.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-09 |title=India clears two mega defence projects for 2 indigenous nuclear submarines & 31 Predator drones |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-clears-two-mega-defence-projects-for-2-indigenous-nuclear-submarines-31-predator-drones/articleshow/114095147.cms |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite news |date=2024-10-14 |title=Navy setting up base to control submarines on long-range patrols |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/navy-sets-up-base-to-control-submarines-on-long-range-patrols/articleshow/114196990.cms |access-date=2024-10-14 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
During a press conference, the Indian Navy confirmed that it plans to operate 6 SSNs in total. The first of the initial two submarines is to be completed by 2036-37 followed by the next in 2038-39.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-12-02 |title=Navy Chief Dinesh Kumar Tripathi: Deals for Rafale-M jets, three additional Scorpene submarines in advanced stages |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/deals-for-rafale-m-jets-three-additional-scorpene-submarines-in-advanced-stages-navy-chief/article68937239.ece/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |last=Philip |first=Snehesh Alex |date=2024-12-02 |title=Navy chief spells out mega nuclear attack submarine plan. Here's what it is |url=https://theprint.in/defence/navy-chief-spells-out-mega-nuclear-attack-submarine-plan-heres-what-it-is/2383199/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Peri |first=Dinakar |date=2024-12-07 |title=Indigenous nuclear attack submarine design to take 4-5 years, another five years for construction |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indigenous-nuclear-attack-submarine-design-to-take-4-5-years-another-five-years-for-construction/article68959614.ece/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Submarines of the Indian Navy}}
{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}
{{Current SSN}}