Indian Navy Discussions and Updates

SolarisKenzo said:

If you change the reactor you basically have to re-design a substantial part of the ship.
It's not a lego.

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I am not a naval architect so I really don't know how much redesign work would be required when converting from reactor F to reactor I. Dimensions and weight are the main considerations but perhaps there is a lot of other stuff as well.

John Fedup said:

I am not a naval architect so I really don't know how much redesign work would be required when converting from reactor F to reactor I. Dimensions and weight are the main considerations but perhaps there is a lot of other stuff as well.

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Different reactors have different types of fuel, steam generators, vessels, core, primary and secondary circuits...
Two models of the same generation and with the same tech (for example two pressurized water 3rd gen reactors) can be extremely different, depending on the design you can have one that is double the size of the other with the same output in terms of MWs... or one that has 3 steam generators and one that has 5...
A reactor could need refuel after 10-20 years, another might be built completely closed and at the end of its life its just unusable...

WRT CVNs, India will have to decide on domestic content versus delivery/FOC. The same applies to a GT powered carrier. The other issue is an actual carrier capable jet for the 2040s and beyond.

The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) is a new class of anti-submarine warfare corvettes currently being built for the Indian Navy. The first of class, Arnala P68, was recently commissioned on 18 June 2025. Here in this video below we can a closer look to this new interesting class of anti-submarine corvettes.

India commision third SSBN INS Aridhaman. Eventough it is part of Arihant class, however all three SSBN seems follow progresive enlargement. INS Arihant 96 m length with 4 Silo, INS Arighat 110 m but also with 4 Silo, while this INS Aridhaman 130m with 8 Silo.

Fincantieri wins 200 million euro contract to supply WASS BLACK SHARK ADVANCED heavy torpedoes to the Indian Navy for their Scorpene class submarines.

Naval Ambition: India’s Indigenous 200-Ship Fleet Roadmap by 2035

The Indian Navy is executing a massive force-structure expansion, aiming for a 200-ship fleet by 2035. Following the recent commissioning of the ASW corvette INS Anjadip, CNS Admiral Dinesh Tripathi confirmed a "100% Indigenous" mandate for all future orders, leveraging India's maturing public and private shipbuilding sectors.

Key Force Multipliers in the Pipeline:

• Carrier Strike Groups: Plans include a second Vikrant-class follow-on (45,000-ton) and a larger INS Vishal (70,000-ton) equipped with CATOBAR/EMALS.
• Surface Combatants: Development of Project-18 Next-Gen Destroyers (13,000-ton), Project-17B Stealth Frigates, and Next-Gen Corvettes (Project-28A).
• Undersea Dominance: A multi-tier program including 6 Project-75I (AIP), 12 indigenous Project-76 conventional submarines, 6 Project-77 SSNs, and the massive S5-class 17,000-ton SSBNs.

With a defense budget hitting $93.5 billion, the shift from "buying" to "building" is now a structural reality. This expansion aims to transform the Navy into a persistent, net-security provider across the Indo-Pacific, ensuring operational depth from the Malacca Strait to the Gulf of Aden.

Read the full article at source: Indian Navy Plans 200-Ship Fleet by 2035 with Complete Indigenous Construction

India’s S5 SSBN: A 17,000-Ton Leap in Nuclear Deterrence
India is scaling up its undersea nuclear triad with the S5-class SSBN, a massive successor to the Arihant-class. Displacing between 16,500 and 17,000 tonnes submerged, the S5 puts India in the elite league of the Ohio and Vanguard classes, specifically designed to counter peer-level threats in the Indo-Pacific.

Technical & Strategic Highlights:

• VLS & Payload: The S5 features 16 vertical launch tubes designed for next-gen SLBMs. It will likely carry the K5 (6,500 km range) or the K6 (8,000+ km range), both equipped with MIRV warheads capable of reaching deep into the Chinese heartland from secure "bastions" in the Indian Ocean.
• Power & Stealth: Driven by a new 190 MW pressurized water reactor, the S5 is expected to exceed 30 knots submerged. Advanced acoustic quieting, including pump-jet propulsion and high-end sonar suites, targets a 90–100 day submerged endurance.
• Force Structure: Planners envision a fleet of four S5 boats alongside the Arihant class to maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent.

With over 90% indigenous content, the S5 represents the pinnacle of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in strategic military engineering.

Read the full article at source: MASSIVE: S5 SSBN expanding into a 17,000-ton beast to target China's heartland

Project-77: Indian Navy SSNs to Feature 2,500km Hypersonic SLCMs
India’s Project-77 nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program is set to redefine Indo-Pacific maritime dynamics. Moving beyond traditional attack roles, these indigenous platforms are being designed to carry hypersonic Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles (SLCMs) with a reported range of 2,500 km.

Technical & Tactical Breakthroughs:

• The Hypersonic Edge: By integrating Mach 5+ maneuverable missiles, Project-77 can compress an adversary's reaction window to near zero, creating a "no-escape zone" for high-value naval and coastal assets.
• 190MW Nuclear Power: A massive jump from the Arihant’s 83MW reactor, the new BARC-developed 190MW reactor will enable sustained underwater speeds exceeding 30 knots and provide the energy headroom for advanced sensors and pump-jet propulsion.
• Acoustic Stealth: Anticipated use of pump-jet technology and refined hull shaping aims to give India an acoustic edge over regional peers, focusing on "Area Denial" at critical chokepoints like the Malacca Strait.

With an estimated cost of ₹1.2 lakh crore, Project-77 represents the pinnacle of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, shifting India from a regional navy to a true blue-water power.

Read the full article at source: Indian Navy Project-77 SSN to get 2,500 km range Hypersonic SLCM to expand its firepower

Indian Navy Vision 2047: The Rise of a "Trust in India" Blue-Water Power
The Indian Navy has unveiled its "Vision 2047" roadmap, shifting from "Make in India" to "Trust in India"—a philosophy targeting 100% component-level indigenization. By 2047, the IN aims to field a 300-ship fleet, positioning itself alongside the US and China as a top-tier Indo-Pacific maritime force.

Strategic Capability Matrix:

• Surface Dominance: The 13,000-tonne Project-18 Destroyers will act as "Hypersonic Command Ships," featuring 144 VLS cells for BrahMos-II and advanced AESA radars with 500km tracking ranges.
• Undersea Supremacy: The fleet will be anchored by the S5-class SSBN (17,000 tonnes / 200MW reactor) for strategic deterrence and the Project-77 SSN (10,000 tonnes) for carrier escort and hunter-killer roles.
• Carrier Strike Power: A 3-carrier "2+1" doctrine is planned, transitionally supported by a Vikrant-class follow-on and culminating in the 80,000-tonne INS Vishal, a CATOBAR supercarrier with EMALS.
• Expeditionary Reach: Four 30,000–40,000 tonne LPDs will provide massive troop lift and disaster-response capabilities across the region.

With a massive induction rate of one platform every 40 days, India is "weaponizing geography" to secure key chokepoints and provide net security across the Indian Ocean.

Read the full article at source: Indian Navy Vision 2047 : How India's growing economic and political clout will reflect on the maritime prowess of the country - Analysis