• Defence

JFD support for Indian Navy accelerates

JFD has completed the build of the first of its two 3rd generation submarine rescue systems for the Indian Navy and has commenced the contracted training plan.

Back in the summer of 2016 we announced in Pelican that JFD had landed a significant submarine rescue deal with the Indian Navy to create two new systems, train its operators and maintain all equipment.

In February 2018 senior representatives from the Indian Navy flew to JFD’s manufacturing base in Renfrew near Glasgow to celebrate the build completion of the first system. The ceremony marked a world-first in the final integration of a complete submarine rescue system within a single manufacturing facility, enabling engineers to test in-situ how each component part would integrate in order to deliver the optimum submarine rescue capability.

Under the £193m contract, JFD are providing two complete fly-away submarine rescue systems to the Indian Navy, the first of which has now been delivered. Each system includes a deep search 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.

The submarine rescue systems have been specifically designed to operate at the leading edge of capability whilst also being optimised to be easily transported by as many different aircraft types as possible. This greatly increases the number of available aircraft to transport the system, minimising the time required for mobilisation.

The equipment has been designed, manufactured, integrated and tested by JFD and the first system has now been shipped to India, arriving mid-April, for final commissioning and trials.

‘Protecting the lives of submariners is the foundation of our business,’

Says Giovanni Corbetta, JFD’s managing director;

‘that is why we have invested significantly in the development of our generation system, using our deep and unrivalled knowledge of submarine rescue to conduct an extensive research and development programme, developed against a set of generic, but well-considered and representative requirements.’

The submarine rescue systems will be situated on bases maintained on the east and west coasts of India. Both bases will have state–of-the-art rescue assets that will be operated by the Indian Navy, which is now being trained and supported by JFD maintenance and training staff as part of the deal, also including a 25-year all-inclusive annual maintenance contract.

JFD specialists commenced the training programme at the end of 2017, with 72 officers and sailors from the Indian Navy at various facilities throughout Scotland. The initial five-week phase covered chamber operation, ROV training and familiarisation, and in-water submersible training. Training then continued on the operation of submersibles and is culminating in cross-training on DSRVs, following sea acceptance trials. By the end of the programme, trainees will be ready to safely undertake live rescue operations at sea.

Watch JFD's third generation submarine rescue system concept of operations video: