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New submarine gives Pak 'tactical advantage' over India

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The commissioning of the French Agosta 90B submarine into the Pakistan Navy has made it first in the subcontinent possessing the capability to launch anti-ship missiles from a submarine. Senior officers of the Indian Navy and defence strategists have called for immediate steps to counter this.

The Agosta 90B submarine, which was commissioned on Tuesday at the French port of Cherbourg, can launch any kind of missile from its torpedo tubes. Two more of the sophisticated submarines are set to join the PN in the coming years.

Admitting that with the addition of the Agosta class submarine the Pakistan Navy has gained "tactical advantage" over the Indian Navy, several naval sources and analysts told rediff.com that India should take steps to meet the new challenge. Pakistan has once again scored over India in defence technology.

According to Dean Mathew, research fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, the commissioning of the first Agosta 90B --- which has been christened PNS Khalid -- is a "landmark in Pak Navy's history", and it will "greatly influence the existing balance between the navies in the Indian Ocean region."

He said, "though details of the weapon mix to be carried by these submarines are not readily known, the most significant of all is that these submarines reportedly have the ability to launch anti-ship missiles of 100-150 kilometres range from their torpedo tubes, while submerged." This makes Pakistan the only country in the region capable of firing anti-ship sea-skimming missiles from the surface, ship, aircraft and submarine.

An anti-ship missile -- most probably one of the French manufactured Exocets -- fired from a submarine is the "most difficult thing to handle" as it has a "surprise element" leaving very little time for the target to react, Mathew said.

According to a senior Navy officer, the Indian Navy will have to think of sharpening "our missile defence capability," and also look at improving the damage control capability in case a ship is hit. "We cannot be worrying about Pakistani acquisitions. What we could look at are ways to improve our capabilities," he said.

At present the Indian Navy has 17 submarines, but this fleet will decrease to a mere 10 by 2010, if the present rate of acquisitions continue. Project 75, under which the Shishumar class submarines are to be manufactured at Mazagon Docks Limited, Bombay, is yet to take off. Under the Project the HDW submarines are to be fitted with anti-ship missiles.

Presently India has four Russian Foxtrot class diesel-electric submarines, nine Kilo-class SSKs and four Shishumar class HDW type submarines. A recent strategic review by the Navy pointed out that to maintain a force level of 20 conventional submarines at least one new submarine will have to be delivered every year. The Navy's 30 year submarine plan aims to increase the fleet from 17 to 24 by 2025.

Sources said Agosta 90-B SSKs along with the three P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft can provide Pakistan "effective sea denial operations" against India. The Orion can not only threaten India's west coast it can even target surface vessels deployed at Vishakapatnam.

The maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Atlantique, one of which was recently shot down by India, and the P-3C Orion are reportedly capable of firing anti-ship missiles too. Pakistan has with it United States-supplied Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

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