Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk ready for Sindhukesari

Another diesel-electric submarine owned by the Indian Navy, the Sindhukesari, will be in the Zvezdochka ship repair centre for repairs in Russia later this summer. It is being awaited at the Severodvinsk centre, where five similar Russian- built submarines of the Indian Navy were earlier sent to undergo repairs and modernization.

The India Embassy in Moscow sent a delegation headed by the naval attaché Commodore Tarun Sobti recently for an inspection visit to Severodvinsk, RIR has learnt. The authorized Indian representatives have checked the enterprise’s industrial and consumer sites for readiness to receive the Sindhukesari diesel-electric submarine for repair.

During the visit, Sobti examined the ship lifting facilities and main production plants, which will be involved in the repair of the Indian submarine, Eugene Gladyshev, official representative of the CA Zvezdochka, said. The inspection crew paid special attention to the readiness of the premises designed to house the submarine crew, officers of the observation group and their families, as well as to the social and sports infrastructure sites - the Belomorets stadium, the indoor ice arena and our Science and Technology Centre.

Russia, India discuss second nuclear submarine

The decision to send another Indian Navy submarine for repair to Russia was made after a thorough analysis of all the "pros" and "cons", in particular taking into account the “Make in India” national programme. RIR has learnt that two of the four Indian submarines included in the programme for modernized factory repairs will undergo these ‘refit’ procedures at Indian shipyards with technical participation and help from the Russian Zvezdochka.

The question about another one remains open. The Sindhukesari diesel-electric submarine, will be repaired in Severodvinsk. This integrated solution will reduce the total repair time to allow all four submarines to return to the Indian Navy’s combat forces as quickly as possible.

Under the contracts earlier concluded by Zvezdochka, no more than 26 months were allowed for repair of submarines of this type.

This time too, the deadlines are rigid. At the shipyard, they are sure that they will cope. However, the representatives of the Indian side as the customer, decided to personally verify the actual readiness of the Russian shipyard to receive the Sindhukesari submarine for repair. After this inspection, the arrival of the ship to Severodvinsk has been confirmed in June 2016.

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