Captain DK Sharma

1st 1 on 11😆👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

China’s experimental trimaran semi-submersible: OSINT inputs, analysis & lessons for India. (You see some concepts & feel like kicking yourself for not thinking of it earlier. This is one of those) Background: First spotted under tarps at Huangpu/Guangzhou in Oct 2025, later imaged at Dalian May 2026 & now under trial at Huludao). Best understood as a ~65 m, ~900 t submerged, likely uncrewed/optionally crewed “pop-up” arsenal launcher rather than a true submarine. Key OSINT points beyond the Naval News piece: •Black hull with apparent anechoic coating, fixed snorkel, sail with minimal sensors & a small open bridge (presumably for harbour ops only). •Outriggers aft (~13 m span) with ducted/pumpjet propulsors for submerged running. Main propulsion diesel + snorkel for surface/near-surface transit. •Two hangars store missile tubes horizontally in circular clusters (at least 8 confirmed, 16-18 probable). Vessel must surface, open hangars & elevate tubes to fire (surface-launch only, no submerged attack). •Leading missile candidate is YJ-20 hypersonic AShM (already integrating on Type 055/052D; ~1,000–1,500 km class), but cell length & stability constraints may favour slightly smaller surface-launched AShM/land-attack weapons(?), not sure. •Concept echoes 2017 Chinese internet speculation on semi-submersible arsenal ships + Cold War Soviet Juliett-class “pop-up” cruise-missile boats, updated for external targeting networks (satellites, UAVs, other ships). •Ports & construction do not align with known large USV or XLUUV programmes → distinct experimental path. Analysis: This is distributed lethality on the cheap…stealthy transit, brief surface exposure for a salvo, then submerge/relocate. It is not a hunter-killer sub. It is a networked magazine that multiplies strike options without risking high-value crewed platforms. Detection/counter is non-trivial: low freeboard when semi-submerged, limited acoustic signature options, reliance on off-board targeting. Lessons for India: For #AtmanirbharBharat the lesson is clear. India needs indigenous equivalents (unmanned/semi-submersible strike platforms, robust external targeting architecture). We also have the advantage of geography…a vessel like this has huge advantages off choke points. Something like this should *not* be technically very difficult. Someone like @SagarDefence @Nikunj_Parashar could do it easily & rapidly. I think all the building blocks are already in place + they can capitalise on swarming (proven for #Matangi) & even underwater launched drones (project ongoing. Prototype ready) to make something *better* than this. Just need quick decision making & rapid iterative trials. Options include iDEX-to-make or spiral development on existing cases. Missile integration can be separated & given to a DPSU. iDEX/TDAC-style pathways should prioritise such innovative maritime concepts. (I have a few ideas for the propulsion part as well. To make it ultra-long endurance. Won’t discuss them here) #IndianNavy #PLAN #Unmanned #NavalInnovation navalnews.com/naval-news/202… @CaptDKS @KRANTII01 @alpha_defense @viking_subs @srikantkesnur @anuragbisen @AJS_subdriver @subnut

India’s naval indigenisation story is one of vision, grit & strategic clarity. Looking forward to joining the panel on “Indian Navy’s Indigenisation Journey: Past, Present, and Future” at the Indian Military Heritage Festival (#IMHF) on 30-31 Oct 2026 at @USIofIndia, New Delhi. Honoured to share the dais with the legendary Capt NS Mohan Ram, VSM (Retd.) @Mohancapt (a stalwart of @indiannavy ship design), along with other eminent speakers including VAdm B Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM (Chief of Materiel), RAdm Sujit Baxi (DG, Warship Design Bureau) and Cmde Pramod R Kulkarni, PhD (Retd.). The session will be moderated by my long-time mentor, friend & naval historian Cmde Srikant B Kesnur, VSM, PhD (Retd.) @srikantkesnur founder @MeluhaMaritime. Looking forward to a rich discussion on how far we have come…and the path ahead. #AtmanirbharBharat @indiannavy @SpokespersonMoD @SanjayJSingh1 @CaptDKS @kartha_tara (Not sure if it will be live streamed or recorded. If so, will share the link)

This podcast of @Nikunj_Parashar @SagarDefence with @SandeepUnnithan @chakranewz is definitely worth watching for anyone into (not just) maritime deep tech. #Matangi has, rightly, been getting all the eyeballs at #Swavlamban2026…this the story of the many years of work behind that final Kodak moment. Slightly long at almost an hour, but they do cover a wide range of topics. Watch at speed 1.5 or even 2 (they both speak quite deliberately so a higher speed is quite easily understandable😆), but do watch the whole thing. Highly recommended

Saw the convocation at Olin Business School with a lot of pride. Cdr Rahul Verma @viking_subs of #TDAC #NIIO graduated the Executive MBA (IIT Bombay-Washington University in St Louis) programme with top honours. Great going Rahul. @indiannavy @IndiannavyMedia @CaptDKS

Felt a tinge of nostalgia & lots of pride visiting @indiannavy #Swavlamban2026 today. Great to be back among the innovators & the Navy ecosystem #NIIO #TDAC that has grown so much since the 1st edition when the 75 #SPRINT challenges were launched by the Hon’ble PM @narendramodi. The products are now developed, inducted & some even proved their mettle in #OpSindoor! I Will be sharing posts on the firms I interacted with over the next few days. At the entrance itself I saw Matangi (the Autonomous Weaponised Boat Swarm / Autonomous Surface Vessel by @SagarDefence). This is by now a familiar success story of indigenous unmanned maritime capability that needs little introduction. I loved the caption on the boat “this is what ordinary boys from indian villages can dream” !!! Yes, indeed. This and much more👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻@Nikunj_Parashar @Mdlski @dang_lakshay. Right next to it, at the entrance itself, was an interesting setup from Combat Robotics @CombatRobIndia (Pune). I think it looks (😉😂) like a rugged cable/hose reel system marked “for tough conditions”. Anyone know the exact application they’re demonstrating for the Navy? Any guesses? #AtmanirbharBharat @India_iDEX @SIDMIndia @ramesh569108 @alpha_defense @AadiAchint @singhANAGH