`Made in India’ submarine INS Shalki has best escape design

“Indian Navy is certainly proud of Shalki, considering that she is fully made in India. Another unique feature in her is the emergency escape mechanism that can save the entire crew,” informed Commander Sanjay Mahindru, of INS Shalki.

He further explained that the rescue sphere is a round capsule of diameter of three metres that can accomodate all the sailors and officers in case of an emergency and instantaneously bring them up to the ocean surface. “The capsule is attached to Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) which is buoyant in the water and brings the capsule up to safety. The capsule also contains communcation devices and food for up to seven days,” added the commanding officer.

Unlike Shalki, the 18000-ton Kursk did not have this safety device — otherwise the tragedy could have possibly been averted.

Shalki was a major breakthrough in submarine designing, incorporating the optimum balance among machinery, weapon package, and crew comfort. New metallurgical development enhanced her diving capabilities and the pressure hull can undergo heavy structural stress in this sub which is run with diesel electric generators.

The revolutionary seven bladed, scythe-shaped propellor can add extra knots to her speed; while the amazing assembly of sensors — primarily the passive array sonar — keeps a round the clock vigil in the blue waters.

Backed by the digital PC based main fire control computer, which operates on touch screen menu pages, INS Shalki’s weapon payload is a marvel of technology. She is also capable or carrying external mines that are among the best in the world.

Unlike nuclear submarines that tend to be very `noisy’ and easily detected by the enemy radars, Shalki has stealth qualities, and in case of threat perception, she can unleash the lethal wire-guided torpedoes that can easily wreck enemy warships.