INS Khanderi to Undergo Major Upgrade with AIP System Installation
India's Underwater Upgrade: INS Khanderi To Get Long-Missing AIP System
Times Now NewsImage: Times Now News
The Indian Navy plans to upgrade the INS Khanderi submarine with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, enhancing its underwater endurance. This significant modification, set to begin later this year at the Hazira shipyard in Gujarat, aims to bolster India's naval capabilities against Pakistan's AIP-equipped submarines.
- 01INS Khanderi will be India's first submarine equipped with an AIP system.
- 02The upgrade will involve cutting the submarine in half and adding approximately 20 meters to its length.
- 03The installation is expected to take around two years to complete.
- 04The Indian Navy is also planning to upgrade other submarines, including the INS Sindhuvijay and INS Betwa.
- 05India's plans for additional Scorpene submarines are currently on hold as it shifts focus to a deal with Germany.
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The Indian Navy is set to enhance the capabilities of the INS Khanderi, one of its modern submarines, by installing an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. This upgrade, which will take place at the Hazira shipyard in Gujarat, aims to improve the submarine's underwater endurance, allowing it to operate for up to two weeks without surfacing. The project is expected to begin later this year and will take about two years to complete. The AIP system will be integrated into the submarine's midsection, increasing its length by approximately 20 meters. Currently, the Pakistan Navy operates three Agosta-class submarines equipped with AIP, creating a strategic gap that India seeks to close. Following the Khanderi's upgrade, the Indian Navy plans to retrofit its other five French-designed Scorpene-class submarines with the same technology. Additionally, the INS Sindhuvijay, a Russian-built KILO-class submarine, is set for a refit to extend its operational life, while discussions are ongoing regarding the mid-life update of the INS Betwa frigate. However, India's plans for three more Scorpene submarines are on hold as it evaluates a deal for six German submarines valued at โฌ9 billion.
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The upgrade of INS Khanderi will enhance India's naval capabilities, potentially leading to increased security and strategic advantages in the region.
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