India plans submersible to counter China in the sea
4 Oct 2014 5:02 AM IST
Currently, China’s Jiaolong is considered as one of the finest submergence vehicles in the world. It has the greatest depth range for any manned research vehicle in the world. On 27 June, 2012, the Jiaolong with two oceanauts reached a depth of 7,062 metres in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean.
Considering China’s muscle flexing exercise at the borders as well as in the ocean close to Indian territory, India has decided to come out with its own vehicle-cum-research centre with a capacity of exploring at 6,000 metre water depth, which will be 1,061 metres less (in capacity) as compared with Jiaolong.
Informed sources said plans to make the submergence vehicle at par with China’s Jiaolong are being considered but that will depend on the decision of Cabinet Committee, which deals with the Indian security.
It was learnt that Ministry of Earth and Science is actively working on the proposal and based on the experience while developing and operating an unmanned underwater vehicle for 6,000 metre water depth. Already, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has been roped in to conceptualise the manned submersible on a priority basis.
‘We are looking for foreign firms with expertise in making such vehicles to assist NIOT. As per initial specification, the proposed manned submersible will be designed to hold the depth of 6,000 metres with an underwater endurance of more than 10 hours,’ ministry sources said. ‘The total cost of the vehicle is expected to be around Rs 70 crore,’ they added.
Apart from China the United States, France, Russia and Japan have also developed deep-water technology.
Sensing series violations of international treaties by the neighbouring countries, the new NDA government is worried over increasing presence of the Chinese maritime forces in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In a recent report submitted to the defence ministry, the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters had informed the government quoting the data by American agencies that 22 encounters of Chinese submarines took place outside its territorial waters in the IOR.
Also, over the years China has established its presence in ports around India including Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Chittagong in Bangladesh, Sittwe and Coco Island in Myanmar.
Considering these challenges, PM Narendra Modi has taken several measures to counter such moves by the neighbouring countries and plan to build world’s second deepest submergence vehicle is one of his crucial steps towards Indian security.
Considering China’s muscle flexing exercise at the borders as well as in the ocean close to Indian territory, India has decided to come out with its own vehicle-cum-research centre with a capacity of exploring at 6,000 metre water depth, which will be 1,061 metres less (in capacity) as compared with Jiaolong.
Informed sources said plans to make the submergence vehicle at par with China’s Jiaolong are being considered but that will depend on the decision of Cabinet Committee, which deals with the Indian security.
It was learnt that Ministry of Earth and Science is actively working on the proposal and based on the experience while developing and operating an unmanned underwater vehicle for 6,000 metre water depth. Already, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has been roped in to conceptualise the manned submersible on a priority basis.
‘We are looking for foreign firms with expertise in making such vehicles to assist NIOT. As per initial specification, the proposed manned submersible will be designed to hold the depth of 6,000 metres with an underwater endurance of more than 10 hours,’ ministry sources said. ‘The total cost of the vehicle is expected to be around Rs 70 crore,’ they added.
Apart from China the United States, France, Russia and Japan have also developed deep-water technology.
Sensing series violations of international treaties by the neighbouring countries, the new NDA government is worried over increasing presence of the Chinese maritime forces in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In a recent report submitted to the defence ministry, the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters had informed the government quoting the data by American agencies that 22 encounters of Chinese submarines took place outside its territorial waters in the IOR.
Also, over the years China has established its presence in ports around India including Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Chittagong in Bangladesh, Sittwe and Coco Island in Myanmar.
Considering these challenges, PM Narendra Modi has taken several measures to counter such moves by the neighbouring countries and plan to build world’s second deepest submergence vehicle is one of his crucial steps towards Indian security.
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