Indian Navy’s new submarine rescue system set for 2018 delivery

The Indian Navy’s 3rd generation submarine rescue systems (SRS) will be ready for delivery in 2018, JFD – the systems manufacturer – has announced.

According to the company, Deep Submergence and Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) will be undergoing factory acceptance tests at the end of November 2017, ready for integration trials in December 2017 and harbour acceptance tests in January 2018.

JFD is manufacturing the submarine rescue systems under a £193 million contract signed with the Indian Navy in 2016.

The contract includes the design, build and supply of two complete 3rd Generation submarine rescue systems, which includes Deep Submergence and Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), Launch and Recovery System (LARS) equipment, Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) systems, and all logistics and support equipment required to operate the service, plus a 25-year all-inclusive in service support contract.

JFD is progressing the build and integration of these systems at its headquarters in Glasgow, Scotland. Testing has been undertaken at its specialist facility, the National Hyperbaric Centre in Aberdeen, including pressurised testing on the pressure hulls and command module, part of the DSRVs.

The 3rd Generation system training programme for the 72 personnel has commenced, on location at the Underwater Centre in Fort William, where JFD is familiarising the team with all aspects of submarine rescue from theory through to operation as part of a structured training programme, before beginning operational exercises on the new systems in 2018.

The 3rd Generation SRS has been developed by JFD to maximise the chances of successfully rescuing the crew of a distressed submarine (DISSUB).

The DSAR class SRV is capable of diving to new deeper depths with a crew of 3 and up to 17 rescuees, while the medical hyperbaric complex can treat and decompress up to 90 personnel at any one time. The launch and recovery system has been designed to handle the SRV in conditions up to and including sea state 6, while a pair of self-contained generators are capable of providing a fully redundant electrical supply to the entire system.

Ben Sharples, JFD Business Execution Director, commented: “JFD was selected in 2016 to fulfil this contract for one of the world’s leading navies. We have un-rivalled experience in this specialist field, having built the last two 2nd Generation submarine rescue systems; these new 3rd Generation systems will be the fourth systems in a row JFD will have designed and manufactured.”

The first of the two systems is to be shipped in March 2018 for final commissioning and trials, with full system due to complete in June 2018.