Gorshkov Conversion for Indian Navy The new air group consists of 30 MiG-29K, 4 Ka-32 AEW, and 2 Ka-27 Helix C SAR. The conversion is underway at Severomorsk. The 2 Podkat [Strut Pair] and Mars-Passat [Sky Watch] radars will be deleted and an MR-600 Voskhod [Top Pair] radar added. All weapons and associated fire control systems will be deleted and a F/PQ/SQ/A 4 Kashtan and 4 Hot Flash added. The ship now has a top speed of 28 knots and displaces 45400 tonnes fl. The flight deck has a single STOBAR (Short Takeoff But Arrested Recovery) take off deck that crosses over the landing deck. There are 13 parking spots clear of landing and take off runways. The take off runway is 195m long with a 14° ramp. The landing runway is 198 m long with 3 arrester wires. The two existing lifts are retained, but only one can accept the MiG-29K. See the illustration for the flight deck layout. At the same December 1999 meeting that finalized the sale of Admiral Gorshkov, the Russians agreed to lease to India three A-50 Mainstay and 12 Tu-22M Backfire bombers! The first A-50 could arrive before the end of 2000, with the others, including the Backfires, to follow soon. [Ed Note: It should be noted that the Backfire would not only represent a powerful maritime strike capability, but a powerful strike capability, period. While the Russians will certainly decertify the bomber's nuclear capability, their conventional bombload and long range would be a powerful factor in any future conflicts with Pakistan or China.] First Indications of Indian Air Defence Ship The Indian-built carrier will be a small conventional design of 24-28,000 tons displacement. It has a similar flight deck arrangement to Charles de Gaulle, including 2 catapults and 2 side elevators. It also has a similar weapon suite, except no PAAMS or DRBV 26D radar. The propulsion is not clear but is most likely to be nuclear or conventional steam. The air group is claimed to be at least 15 MiG-29K plus other aircraft. A total of 60 MiG-29Ks are being ordered by India, apparently in a form suitable for both catapult and STOBAR launch. Israel Sells China AEW Capability Over US objections, Israel Aircraft Industries will fit Russian aircraft with their Phalcon system for China. This radar, already in use by Israel and sold to Chile, provides AEW capability, and if the customer desires, ELINT and COMINT ability as well. The EL/2075 phased array radar has a range of 337/216/135/61/34 nm. It will be fitted to Russian Il-76 transports in a joint Israeli-Russian program. The first Russian aircraft was delivered to Israel last year, and has almost finished the conversion process. It should be delivered to China this Spring. Once China approves the conversion, 4 - 8 aircraft could be ordered. While not as powerful as the APY-1/ AWACS system, the Phalcon will give the Chinese military surveillance, reconnaissance and C 3 capability far in advance of anything they have now. It remains to be seen how this capability will be incorporated into Chinese military doctrine. Chinese Sovremennyy Heads for its New Home The first Chinese Sovremennyy is named Hangzhou, pendant number 136. It left the Gulf of Finland for delivery to China 8 Jan 2000. The Chinese will also purchase another two units, bringing the total to four. Pakistan Type 21 Upgrade Details The six former British Amazon class purchased by Pakistan have been modernized, starting in 1996. All have Chinese twin 25 mm port and star-board, and a Chinese LY-60 SAM (a copy of the Italian Aspide system) aft where the Seacat was. The two Radar 912 FC radars (one for the gun, one for the missiles) have been replaced with LL-1 fire control radar (a copy of RTN-10X). Four have been fitted with four single torpedo tubes with Swedish Type 43X2 ASW torpedoes and new (unspecified) EW. Babur, Badr and Shah Jehan have one quad Harpoon launcher forward, where the ships carried Exocet in UK service. The other three ships have no SSM. Tariq, Khaibar and Tippu Sultan have replaced Radar 992 with Dutch DA.08 radar. Only 2 ATAS sonar suites are available - it is not clear which ships have them. These ships, with a combination of British, American, Chinese, Swedish and Dutch systems represent a true "pick and mix" combination and must surely be a logistics nightmare. The upgraded design for the Pakistani Type 21s would be a far greater threat in the HNR 2000 scenario (assuming all the different systems will work together!). Australia Considers US Kidd Destroyers Australia, in spite of its bad experience with the Newport-class LSTs that they purchased, is seriously examining the purchase of four American Kidd-class DDGs. The demands of the continuing East Timor crisis and the long-standing need for frontline AAW units are driving the Australians toward buying the decommissioned DDGs, but it will be at their price, not the US Navy's. INDIA Ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov [Mod Kiev] CVHG Displacement: 40000 std In Class: 1 Acoustic Counterm: None In Service: 200? Electronic Counterm: 3rd Gen J&D ESM: 3rd Gen Propulsion: Steam Crew: 1600 Size Class: Large Signature:Large/Noisy Weapons: ROF F/PQ/SQ/A 4 Kashtan//1 Hot Flash C&D/Russia 30 MiG-29K Fulcrum B 4 Ka-29 RLD/Ka-32 AEW B 3 Ka-27 Helix C SAR B 2 Ka-27PS Helix D B 2 Elevator - Sensors: MR-600 Voshkod [Top Pair] J Plate Steer, 3 Volga [Palm Frond] J MGK-355 Polinom suite [Horse Jaw & Horse Tail] M Remarks: Project 1143.4. Fourth unit of Kiev class, heavily modified island. Ex- Admiral Gorshkov, Ex- Baku. Flight deck angled 4.5° to port. Fitted with stabilizers. 1999 - 20??: Sold to India, refitted at Severdovinsk. Fitted with CTOL flight deck with arresting gear and ski jump. Cannot perform simultaneous takeoffs and landings. Deck can accommodate 13 MiG-29K without interfering with flight operations. Only forward elevator can accommodate MiG-29. Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 176 352 528 634 704 Surf Speed: 28 21 14 7 0 Sinks PAKISTAN Ex-UK Amazon (Type 21) FF Displacement: 3210 std In Class: 6 Acoustic Counterm: 2nd Gen Twd In Service: 1993 Electronic Counterm: 2nd Gen J&D ESM: 2nd Gen Propulsion: COGOG/CPP Crew: 192 Size Class: Small Signature: Small/Quiet Weapons: ROF F(1)1 Mk8 114mm/55//1 Radar 912 C/UK P/S(1)4 Mk7A 20mm/70 F/UK Aft Pad (1)1 Lynx HAS.3 B/UK Sensors: Radar 1006, Radar 992 J Sonar 162 M Remarks: Ex- Ambuscade ( Tariq), Ex- Amazon ( Babur), Ex- Arrow ( Khaibar), Ex- Alacrity ( Badr), Ex- Active ( Shah Jehan), Ex- Ambuscade (Tippu Sultan). Transferred to Pakistan 1994. Classed as destroyers by Pakistani Navy. Aluminum construction, special damage modifier of -15%. Fitted with fin stabilizers. Provision for PB&SB(2)2 MM38 Exocet w/2 msls. 20mm removed, replaced by P/S(2)2 Type 61M 25mm AA C/PRC. 1996: Modernization program Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 25 50 74 89 99 Surf Speed: 30 22 15 7 0 Sinks Ex-UK Amazon (Type 21) (Modernized) FF Displacement: 3210 std In Class: 6 Acoustic Counterm: 2nd Gen Twd In Service: 1993 Electronic Counterm: 2nd Gen J&D ESM: 2nd Gen Propulsion: COGOG/CPP Crew: 192 Size Class: Small Signature: Small/Quiet Weapons: ROF F(1)1 Mk8 114mm/55//1 LL-1 (Radar 912) C/UK A(6)1 Mk15 Phalanx 20mm w/5 bursts C/USA F(6)1 LY-60N w/6 msls//LL-1 (RTN-10X) D/PRC ( Tariq, Khaibar, Tippu Sultan only) P/S(2)2 Type 61M 25mm C/PRC PB&SB(4)1 Mk141 w/4 Harpoon IC (8) D/USA ( Babur, Badr, Shah Jehan only) PB/SB(1)4 TT w/1 Tp43X2 torp F/Sweden ( four units) Aft Pad (1)1 Lynx HAS.3 B/UK Sensors: Radar 1006 J/UK DA.08 ( Tariq, Khaibar, Tippu Sultan only) J/Nethl Radar 992 ( Babur, Badr, Shah Jehan only) J/UK Sonar 162, ATAS M/UK Remarks: Ex- Ambuscade ( Tariq), Ex- Amazon ( Babur), Ex- Arrow ( Khaibar), Ex- Alacrity ( Badr), Ex- Active ( Shah Jehan), Ex- Ambuscade ( Tippu Sultan). Transferred to Pakistan 1994. Classed as destroyers by Pakistani Navy. Aluminum construction, special damage modifier of -15%. Fitted with fin stabilizers. Configuration as of 1996-98 modernization. Two ATAS sonars procured for class, but no indication which ships will be fitted. Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 25 50 74 89 99 Surf Speed: 30 22 15 7 0 Sinks BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #18 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com