Amidst a numbers crisis, India to refit an ageing Type 209 submarine
INS Shankush was the second Type 209 built for the Indian Navy. It was commissioned on 20 November 1986. (Photo: MDL)
With no apparent progress in place for obtaining new batches of submarines, India is resorting to upgrading its older boats.
On 30 June, the Indian MoD awarded Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) an INR27.25 billion ($332 million) contract for a medium refit of INS Shankush. This Type 209/1500 submarine, built by HDW in Kiel in 1984, is to return to service in 2026.
The Indian Navy’s (IN) shrinking submarine fleet, while neighbours China and Pakistan expand theirs, has shaken the MoD from its state of apathy.
However, the decision to retrofit Shankush has left many nervous, given that the life of a conventional submarine is typically 24-28 years. Over time, compression and decompression result in structural weakness.
While
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Personalised news alerts
- Daily and weekly newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Naval Warfare
-
![BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement]()
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
![Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates]()
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
![Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat]()
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
