If
someone boasts to you that he feels fully protected because he has
the most modern deadly gunshots for a gun, but a small problem, that
he has no gun, what would you do? I would surely laugh at his
ignorance.
This
is what defense ministry of India seems to be doing, or it appears
so. India successfully carried out the maiden test firing of the over
290 km-range submarine-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile in the Bay of Bengal today boasting that it is the only
country in the world to have this capability. CEO of the company that
makes BrahMos, Mr. Sivathanu Pillai, rightfully told the press that
the submarine-launched version of BrahMos was successfully test-fired
from an underwater pontoon near here and BrahMos missile is fully
ready for fitment in submarines in vertical launch configuration
which will make the platform one of the most powerful weapon
platforms in the world.”
This
was the first test firing of an underwater supersonic cruise missile
anywhere in the world and the missile travelled its complete range of
over 290 Km. The performance of the missile during the test launch
was perfect.
So far
so good! However, did you notice that the missile was launched from
an underwater Pontoon. Now, what exactly is a Pontoon? Wikipedia
define this word as a Float (nautical), an air-filled structure
providing buoyancy, the flat-bottomed boat, an anchored raft-like
platform used for diving or a floating deck. I do not know what is an
underwater pontoon, but I presume that it is some kind of stable
platform underwater, from which this missile was launched in vertical
position.
What
is important here to note that the successful missile test was not
carried from a submarine but rather from an underwater platform. The
reason for this is obvious. India does not posses any submarine that
can launch a missile in a vertical position. Indian Navy has at
present have a fleet of Russian Kilo-class, German HDW, submarines
and a Russian Nuclear submarine on lease. Likely to join soon to the
fleet are six French Scorpene class Sumarines, being constructed in
India, code named as Project 75. Unfortunately, none of these, can
accommodate the BrahMos in vertical firing position.
Indian
Government and Navy have been talking about building 6 new
submarines, which can accommodate vertical firing of BrahMos
underwater missiles under code name Project 75 I . However, these
submarines are still at conceptual stage and are unlikely to join the
fleet for another 12 years or any time before 2023or 2024.
Without
least doubt, it can be said that air breathing BrahMos is a super
precision strike weapon. The Mach 2.8 speed missile has already
entered the service of Army, Air Force and even Navy for use on
surface ships. A report in 'Times of India' says that Army has
ordered BrahMos missiles worth 9,484 crore (94 Billion) Rupees,
over the next two-three years. Indian Navy and Air Force have ordered
missiles worth Rs 3,568 crore (35 Billion)and Rs 1,295 crore 12.95
Billions.
In
spite of all this, having an underwater cruse missile delivery
system, is likely to remain a pipe dream for the navy, even if the
missile itself is ready, when there is no platform available to
launch the missiles. What is the use of these superfine gun shots, if
we do not have the guns in the first place.
22
March 2013
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