dna edit: A blow to the Navy

The destruction of India’s most modern operational submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, with 18 personnel on board, comes at a time when the Indian navy is struggling to modernise and expand its ageing underwater fleet of submarines. A triple tragedy, besides the loss of the Sindhurakshak and the uncertain fate of the 18 personnel, was averted after the fire which spread to another Kilo class submarine docked nearby, the INS Sindhuratna, was doused quickly. Though a probe will establish whether it was human error, sabotage, or mechanical faults that caused the disaster, what the incident quickly exposed are the delays plaguing the upgradation and replacement of ageing vessels.

While a fleet strength of 24 submarines was sanctioned, the navy has four older generation HDW 209 class and nine Kilo class submarines. Eleven of these are older than 20 years. A nuclear-powered submarine, INS Chakra, was leased from Russia in 2012.

Another one, INS Arihant, whose nuclear reactor turned critical this week, is yet to be commissioned. Of the nine Kilo submarines, two are being refitted at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). To make matters worse, one of the submarines being refitted at HSL has been docked there since 2003. In contrast, the refitting of Sindhurakshak in Russia cost Rs815 crore but was completed within three years and re-inducted this April.

The difficulties of defence procurement are clearly showing. The orders for more German-made HDWs were cancelled after allegations of corruption in procurement. The manufacture of 12 Scorpene submarines, progressing at Mumbai’s Mazagon Docks, was scheduled for 2012. But their delivery can begin only from 2017 onwards with huge cost overruns. More vexing is the failure to finalise the tendering of six new-generation submarines, dubbed P-75I. With air-independent propulsion these submarines enjoy stealth advantages over the current diesel-electric engines which surface every few days to recharge their batteries.

In 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved a plan to induct 24 submarines in a 30-year-period. Evidently, the procurement policy has failed. The frozen P-75I plan requires the CCS to sanction Rs50,000 crores but with the economic downturn and the burgeoning fiscal deficit, defence spending could become a casualty. For India, which dreams of dominating the Indian Ocean from the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Strait, the size of the rapidly expanding Chinese submarine fleet — nearly 50-strong now — poses serious questions. Naval budgets have increased from $2.8 billion in 2011-12 to $4.7 billion in 2012-13 and $6 billion in 2013-14. While the initial plan was to secure more frigates and destroyers, the Sindhurakshak tragedy makes a strong case for quickly clearing the P-75I purchase.