Indian Navy Proposes Round 2 of Kilo Class Submarine Overhaul

INS Sindhurakshak after its overhaul at Zvezdochka shipyard.

The Indian Navy (IN) intends to get four of its Kilo class subs overhauled in Zvezdochka shipyard in North Russia to extend their lives by another 10 years, Vice-Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, said on Tuesday December 3, 2013. [via TOI]

Earlier, the General Director of the Russian submarine repair at Zvyozdochka, Vladimir S. Nikitin, told The Hindu that the shipyard was close to signing a contract for life-extension refit of two Indian Kilo-class submarines in 2015.

In January 2013, the Indian Navy (IN) completed the overhaul and upgrade of its 10 Kilo class (Project 887EKM) submarines under a deal signed in 2001.

Each upgrade cost $80 million and involved complete overhaul of the submarine and its hull structures; installation of an improved control system, sonar, electronic warfare system, and an integrated weapon control system. Additionally the subs are being equipped to launch Club-S missiles from its torpedo tubes.

The refit included support for the new version of Klub-S (3M54E1 anti-ship and 3M14E land attack) cruise missiles and over ten Indian and foreign-made systems including the Ushus hydro-acoustic (sonar) system and CSS-MK-2 radio communications system.

In addition, the boat's cooling system was modified, the Porpoise radar fitted and other work carried out "increasing the boat's military capacity and safety."

Two submarines - INS Sindhuvir and INS Sindhuraj - were modernized at the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

Later, five subs - INS Sindhukesari, INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhugosh and INS Sindhuvijay and INS Sindhurakshak - were modernized at  - Zvyozdochka Shipyard in Severodvinsk.

Of the remaining 3 subs, one has already been overhauled in India, and another two are in the process of being overhauled.

Kilo class submarines were developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg).

The Indian Navy also plans to extend the lives of its two HDW (Shishumar Class) submarines through an overhaul and refit at Mazagaon Docks.

For additional details on the Kilo class subs and their upgrades please visit the link below

Kilo Class submarines upgrade - IDP Sentinel