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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

With formal approval granted for the development of two nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) under Project-77 for the Indian Navy, the next phase of India’s nuclear submarine program is well underway. According to a former Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) official who spoke to idrw.org, work on the second-generation 190-MW nuclear reactor has been ongoing for nearly eight years and will be ready in time to power the upcoming submarines.

The approval for these two SSNs marks a significant step forward in bolstering India’s maritime capabilities. Nuclear-powered attack submarines are critical assets for modern navies due to their ability to remain submerged for extended periods and travel vast distances without surfacing, making them indispensable for surveillance, deterrence, and offensive operations.

The 190-MW reactor developed for these SSNs is a significant upgrade from the 83-MW reactors that power the Arihant-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), India’s first domestically developed nuclear submarines. According to the former BARC official, this new reactor is a scaled-up variant of the Arihant’s 83-MW nuclear plant, which has demonstrated key technological advancements and undergone improvements, especially as seen in the INS Arighat, Arihant’s sister submarine, inducted earlier this year.

The official confirmed that BARC has been working on the design of the 190-MW nuclear plant for Project-77 SSNs for several years, and it is now ready for deployment. This reactor will also be used in the upcoming S5-class SSBNs, a next-generation platform expected to bolster India’s nuclear deterrent capability.

However, the design of the 190-MW reactor will feature two key variants. S5 SSBN Variant Meant for slow, steady operation, the SSBN variant of the reactor is designed for endurance missions, where the submarine can operate in stealth mode for long periods without the need for rapid changes in power output. The second, called SSN Variant is designed to handle the dynamic power demands required for attack submarines (SSNs). SSNs often need to manoeuvre rapidly, change depths, and attack targets, all of which necessitate quick bursts of power, making this variant more versatile in handling such operational needs.

India’s first-generation Arihant-class SSBNs have been powered by an 83-MW reactor designed by BARC, with Russian assistance during the development phase. The reactor was extensively tested on a land-based prototype, known as S1 before being integrated into the INS Arihant (S2). This process allowed BARC and the Indian Navy to collect valuable data, fine-tune the reactor’s design, and ensure safety and reliability.

Similarly, the former BARC official indicated that there may be a possibility of creating a land-based prototype of the new 190-MW reactor. While it is not certain whether this will be necessary, it would follow the model established with the S1 prototype. Testing the new reactor in a land-based facility could allow BARC to validate various design changes and ensure its reliability before it is fitted into India’s nuclear attack submarines.

As India’s naval nuclear program evolves, the approval of the Project-77 SSNs and the development of the 190-MW nuclear reactor bring the country closer to possessing a modern, blue-water navy with potent offensive and deterrent capabilities. The new reactor’s design is already in place, marking significant progress toward the future deployment of nuclear attack submarines that can meet the Indian Navy’s operational demands.

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