11/21/2023 0 Comments India nuclear submarine arihantMeanwhile, it continued sending out feelers to the US for nuclear reactor propulsion technology for submarines and surface ships. In 2017, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba visited a French shipyard for a closer look at its newest Barracuda class SSNs. (The proposal was put before the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval this year but even if it is approved, the first unit is not expected to enter service before 2032.) Naval officials believe foreign assistance for this project might be needed, either from traditional partner Russia or from France. India is looking to design and build a fleet of six Project-76 indigenous SSNs fitted with a new nuclear reactor. Only the five permanent members of the UN Security Council possess this technology. The key in an SSN is its high-performance nuclear reactor, reason they are regarded as the crown jewels of nuclear technology. They can carry twice the weapon load of conventional submarines and move twice as fast. Their submerged endurance is limited only by the crew’s endurance or food supplies. They are capable of tremendous underwater speed and, unlike conventional diesel-electric submarines, don’t need to surface to recharge their batteries. SSNs are regarded as the most technologically complex military platforms ever built. This stance held through even during and after the passage of the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement of 2008 that tacitly recognised India’s nuclear weapon status. The US has consistently refused to discuss any possibility of parting with knowhow on naval nuclear reactors. They are designed to operate for 33 years without refuelling. The newest Virginia class SSNs for instance have reactors that use bomb-grade uranium (U-235 enriched to over 90 %). US N-subs use the most sophisticated nuclear reactors. The US, with over 70 operational nuclear submarines, has more nuclear submarines than Russia, France and UK put together.
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