Russia's Project 23000E Shtorm (Storm) Aircraft Carrier Design: A Strong Contender

Photo credit: Artem Tkachenko / Wikipedia

Russia has offered its "Shtorm" nuclear aircraft carrier design to India for purchase, the Defense News reported on July 12, 2016. A diplomat with the Russian Embassy confirmed that a Russian team visiting India last week made the offer. The Deccan Herald confirmed the visit today reporting that the Russian team had met Defense Secretary G Mohan Kumar. MoD is likely to seek opinion of the Navy and undertake a detailed cost-benefit analysis before taking a call on the offer. In March 2016 the Izvestia newspaper had reported that Russia's Krylovsky State Research Center (KRSC) would be offering its new multipurpose heavy aircraft carrier design called Project 23000E Shtorm (Storm) for the Indian Aircraft Carrier-2 (IAC-2) project. The Shtorm project was first revealed to the public in June at the Army-2015 show near Moscow, where a scale model of the ship was exhibited. The model featured a split air wing comprising navalized T-50 PAKFAs and MiG-29Ks, as well as jet-powered naval early warning aircraft and Ka-27 naval helicopters. The presence of AEW&CS models on the deck suggested the carrier would be able to operate heavy aircraft, perhaps using a Russian developed EMALS analog. The Shtorm design has a displacement of up to 100,000 tons, is 330 meters long, 40 meters wide, and has a draft of 11 meters. It has a nuclear power plant, although initial plans state a conventional one may also be used. The ship is designed to sail at up to 30 knots (around 55 km/h) and withstand sea state 6-7 (characterized by waves up to 9 meters high).

Navy Seeing Design Finalization by 2016 End

The Hindu reported on January 22, 2016 that design of the carrier would be frozen by the end of 2016. Feasibility study has started and would be completed in 8-10 months leading to a design freeze. Design consultancy will be sought from foreign companies with expertise in carrier design and construction. Five countries have been identified for the purpose — the U.S., Russia, France, the U.K. and Italy — all of which currently operate carriers. With the December 2016 deadline looming, the Shtorm would be a strong contender with an already finalized design.

Design Cooperation with the US

India and the US are exploring the feasibility of co-designing INS Vishal under DTTI. That may prove to be too little too late.

Nuclear Propulsion

EMALS based carrier operations require lot of electrical power, mandating nuclear propulsion (NP). Russia has built and operated nuclear powered heavy cruisers. It earlier helped India develop NP for Arihant class SSBN. It's likely that Russian NP ToT for a super carrier would come with less strings attached than US ToT. Additional details on the IAC-2 (INS Vishal) project are available on my paid (Rs 500/- per year) access site IDP Sentinel.
Access to the site is free for one year for those who purchase my maiden novel 'Triumph in Surrender'. Click hereto purchase the book from Amazon.

The reason for the small access fee are explained at this link.

News Roundup: Pipavav to Construct Grigorivich Class Frigates, Fresh EoI for FICV, IN Seeks IAC-2 Design Help

Tata Motor's Kestrel wheeled FICV at DefExpo-2014

MoD Releases Fresh EoI for FICV

MoD recently released a fresh EoI for building a "Future Infantry Combat Vehicle" (FICV) to the following 10 Indian vendors. The EoI has been issued under the DPP-2008, which was operative when the AON was given in 2009.

1. Mahindra Defense System
2. Bharat Forge
3. Larsen & Toubro
4. Punj Lloyd
5. Tata Power
6. Tata Motors
7. Pipavav Defence
8. Rolta India
9. Titagarh Wagons
10. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)

The vendors, who are free to tie-up with foreign firms, have been asked to submit detailed proposals within 90 days.

[via Business Standard]

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) - IDP Sentinel

Indian Navy Seeks Design Consultancy for IAC-2

The Indian Navy in July 2015 issued a letter of request to leading shipbuilders across the globe seeking  proposals for help in designing IAC-2, a 65,000 tonne, 300-m long aircraft carrier with CATOBAR (optionally EMALS) operations.

The letter specifies the carrier should be capable of speeds greater than 30 knots (56 km per hour), but doesn't specify the nature of propulsion - nuclear or CDOG.

The carrier will embark 30-35 fixed wing combat aircraft, and about 20 rotary wing aircraft (helicopters).

The letter has been sent to US company, Lockheed Martin; UK company, BAE Systems, French shipbuilder, DCNS, and Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport.

The vendors are expected to respond with their proposals and costings within a week.

[via Business Standard]

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Indian Aircraft Carrier-2 (IAC-2) INS Vishal - IDP Sentinel

Russia Picks Pipavav for Project 11356 Construction against Follow-up Contract

The Russian government has picked Pipavav shipyard, on the basis of its infrastructure and capacity, as partner for building Project 11356 Grigorivich class frigates in India against an expected follow-up order worth more than $3 billion.

The ET reported on July 16, 2015 that Russia's decision was formally conveyed to MoD in a letter last week from the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) director Alexander Fomin.

A government-to-government contract is likely to be signed within the current FY with delivery expected over the next six to eight years.

“We are ready to transfer technology to ensure the construction of these ships in India. The new ships that will be built will be different and more modern from the Talwar class that have been delivered,” Alexi Dikiy, director for military technical cooperation at USC, told ET.

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Project 11356 Talwar Class Missile Frigates - IDP Sentinel