Shishumar-class submarine


The Shishumar-class vessels are diesel-electric attack submarines, currently in active service with the Indian Navy. These submarines are a lengthier and heavier Indian variant of the Type 209 submarines developed by the German yard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft under the internal designation Type 1500. The first two vessels were built by HDW at Kiel, while the remainder were built at Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai under a technology transfer agreement. The submarines were commissioned between 1986 and 1994. These submarines have a displacement of 1660 tons when surfaced, a speed of, and a complement of 40 including eight officers.

History

India signed the agreement for these submarines with Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft on 11 December 1981. The agreement called for building of two submarines in West Germany, the supply of knocked-down kits for assembling two more submarines in Mazagon Dock Limited, and training for construction and logistics services. An agreement was announced in 1984 for the construction of two additional submarines in MDL, but was subsequently cancelled due to economic crisis in the late 1980s. The four submarines that were finally built form the 10th submarine squadron based at Mumbai.

Mid Life Upgrade

awarded $151mn contract for mid-life upgrade and certification of INS Shishumar, the refit will be carried out by Mazagon Dock, Mumbai with technical cooperation from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
The refit is planned to be completed by 2021 with a similar upgrade for another vessel of to follow.

Ships of the class

Commissions received during the order

In a July 2005 interview with NDTV, V. P. Singh said that in 1987, while he was a minister, he had received a telegram from the Indian ambassador in Germany with the information that Indian agents had received large illegal commissions in the HDW submarine deal. Singh informed the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi about this and instituted an enquiry. Subsequently, this led to differences and Singh decided to resign from the cabinet.