INDIAN NAVY GETS NEW SUBMARINE VEHICLE

IN NEWS

The Indian Navy inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

The DSRV can be operated at a depth of 650 meters and can hold around 15 people. The Indian Navy in March 2016 had commissioned two DSRVs, the second will deployed at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.

DSRV

A deep-submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) is a type of deep-submergence vehicle used for rescue of downed submarines and clandestine missions.

The interior of the DSRV is composed of three spheres. The forward sphere is the "Control Sphere" where the DSRV's pilot and copilot operate the vehicle. The two aft spheres (known as Mid Sphere and Aft Sphere) are used to seat the rescues or to install equipment for additional operations. Maneuvering is accomplished using four thrusters and one main propeller.

The vehicles are developed by Scotland-based JFD, a part of James Fisher and Sons Plc In March, 2016.Using a third-generation system, the DSRV is considered to be the most advanced system currently in operation globally. It is capable of undertaking rescue from a disabled submarine up to 650 metres depth. The DSRV, which is operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled submarine at a time.

SIGNIFICANCE OF DSRV TO INDIAN NAVY

DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in submarines that get disabled. The Indian Navy joins a select group of naval forces in the world that boasts of this niche capability.

The nature of operations undertaken by submarines expose them to high degree of inherent risk. In such an eventuality, traditional methods of search and rescue at sea are ineffective for a disabled submarine. To overcome this capability gap, the Navy has acquired a third generation, advanced Submarine Rescue System considering of a non-tethered DSRV and its associated equipment.

The DSRV will be an additional boost up to the Indian Navy as it is in continuous evaluation of the maritime security environment and ready to respond to any challenges and opportunities.

Due to the unique geographical location of India and its island territories, a large number of ships, craft and vessels traverse the waters in close proximity of our land mass and areas of interest. To enable effective maritime security, it is essential to maintain effective surveillance and enhance our Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). It is of utmost importance to adopt modern technology like rescue emergence vehicle  for security of the sea borders of the country.

The induction of DSRV is part of Indian Navy’s efforts to enhance operational capabilities when China has been ramping up its maritime presence in critical sea lanes especially in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) which are of strategic importance to India. Earlier in 2017, Indian Navy also had operationalised new concept of deployment of warships in IOR to effectively counter China’s growing presence in the strategically key waters. The new mission-based deployment involves deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications.