In view of the lessening operational capabilities of the existing submarine fleet and delays in getting their replacements, the Navy has made some changes in the deployment routines to prolong their life.
The Sindhurakshak and other four vessels upgraded in Russia, were supposed to play a major role in such a scenario but with this mishap, new plans will have to be chalked out to maintain the operational preparedness, senior Naval officers said.
The Sindhurakshak submarine was set to sail for its new mission in the next few days and was fully armed with its torpedos and anti-ship missiles in the naval dockyards in Mumbai at the time of the incident.
Under the around Rs 450 crore upgrades in Russian shipyards from 2010 to 2013, its structure and hull were refurbished and several other systems including its weaponry and target engagement capabilities were enhanced.