This article discusses the evolution of Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense (NBCD) in the Indian Navy. It describes how the sinking of INS Andaman in 1989 highlighted the need to improve NBCD capabilities and procedures. Several changes were subsequently made, including setting up specialized training organizations and acquiring new equipment. The Indian Navy now has strong NBCD preparedness and continues to advance its capabilities, such as developing indigenous nuclear propulsion. The author argues that further professional development is needed for NBCD officers and that the Indian Navy should maintain its leadership in this domain through proactive thinking.

1. This article is proprietary article and views expressed are personal and
not attributed to any person or any organisation.
Proprietary article: Not to be re-printed or transmitted or copied or paraphrased or quoted
without author’s permission. Contact: jassalnavy@hotmail.com
Evolution of NBCD in Indian Navy
During my continuous 16 years of Sea tenure, occasionally I used to go
on the Qarterdeck or Poop deck or Helo deck of the warship (especially
during OSD or Patrol sorties) to see the silent and deep sea. It used to
look beautiful but one thought was very clear, as is to all mariners that
sea, unlike fire, dosn’t look ferocious but is non-pardoning for any wrong
doer. Like fire, it does bring fatalities to the nervous and mischievous. Yet
its serenity used to have a mystic music deep inside, which used to
convey a hand of friendship across the nations to mariners who used it to
travel without polluting it.
The challenges met out by the mariners encompassed all including fury of
the storm, fire on-board, damaged hull flooding or a chemical cargo leak.
Indian Navy in its transition had learnt from the British BRs (Books of
Reference) a very important chapter of Naval war fighter’s life and that
was of ABCDEF (Atomic, Biological, Chemical, Damage Control,
emergency Fire Fighting). This later got refined to NBCD which covered
the same ambit. NBCD in the Navy came to lime light when in 1989 INS
Andamaan, a Petiya class Destroyer, sank in Bay of Bengal during Naval
exercise. Many personnel were rescued, including the commanding
officer, but loss of few Naval personnel left a wound for the thinking Navy,
to be answered positively, with not to be repeated again attitude, by
technical procedures and organisational changes. At that time, we were
just lucky to have a latest induction from Royal Navy, HMS Hermes-
rechristened as INS Viraat, who was beautiful grand lady who had
participated in the Falklands war. Royal Navy had learnt some vital
lessons from the Falklands war and one of them was strength of NBCD
and it was practiced totally in letter and spirit on-board Viraat. Quick
learning on the procedures and organisation threw up many good leafs
which simply ought to be copied and replicated onboard all our other
warships- be of western or eastern origin. Simultaneously, apart from the
changes being made at operational level, there were changes made in
other forums, which included but not limited to, setting up of & impetus to
FOST (earlier Warship Workup Organisation), bringing in of CNAL (list of
items for NBCD), NBCD officer at DSR, some Navy orders on NBCD etc.
Today, CBRN threats have emerged, globally also, on the home security
front. Like all other Navies, Indian warships have preparedness to deal
and operate under CBRN or NBC climate. As in general, there is collective
and individual protection which a warship is provided. Citadel concepts
followed in most of the navies ensure that outside dust or the aerosol
spray does not come inside. Towards this, pre-wetting and air filter
provide certain negation. SOQCV (Solenoid operating quick closing
valves) ensures quick closing of the warships citadel and air pressurising
through the filters builds up a positive pressure. It is seen that Mumbai
Dockyard has issued a tender in which the maintenance of this service is

2. This article is proprietary article and views expressed are personal and
not attributed to any person or any organisation.
Proprietary article: Not to be re-printed or transmitted or copied or paraphrased or quoted
without author’s permission. Contact: jassalnavy@hotmail.com
being outsourced. For good reasons, while the servicing could be
outsourced but it should be ensured that a warship is delivered this
service by the maintainers so that an important capability is retained.
Latest acquisitions viz Talwar class have an excellent close down facility
which needs to be replicated in other warships. Older Rajput class of ships
had many such facilities which are incomparable today also. Good concept
of many small citadels in a ship should be followed rather than having a
single ship as a citadel.
Biological warfare is unlikely to be at sea but it cannot be ruled out. Due
to the nature and medium of incubation, Land based units are likely to get
affected more. For defence against Chemical warfare, material
preparation is on the lines of protection as envisaged for Nuclear warfare.
For both, Nuclear and Chemical warfare, detection and surveillance
systems are available onboard the warships. Drills to be followed after
surveillance alarm or on detection are well known. FOST organisation has
done a tremendous job in getting all the NBCD drills in shape and to
standard. When the author was a work up instructor in HQ FOST, he had
worked up more than 42 warships ranging from an Aircraft Carrier to LCU
in a span of 3½ yrs. During such a tenure, a project called as ‘NBC Yard’
was conceived which could not only provide NBC training to all personnel
but also have little embedded competence to repair, calibrate and
maintain such high technology & sensitive equipment and systems. It is
understood that such a facility is about to come up soon. NBCD School,
the alma mater of NBCD Training has also gone under change. DC
Simulator was set up in the start of this century. This author had visited
Royal Navy NBCD School at Phoenix to see how we could setup a Fire
Fighting simulator at our NBCD School. The project has obtained the Govt
sanction and is to be setup in association with GSL soon.
Role of DRDO in equipping the Services with indigenous equipment is
laudable. While DRDO has not been on the front edge of providing lead
technology equipment as and when developed elsewhere, but the global
trail followed by it has tried to equip the Navy in many a personal
detection and protection equipment. The protective suits and detection
equipment provided by DRDO development are yet to be tested out in
battle field scenario. Many users feel more comfortable and assured when
they don and operate foreign OEMs suits/ equipment. For sure, DRDO
developed suits and equipment should try to get certifications from lead
foreign countries for carrying out exports of these privileged items to
developed countries.
With Indian maritime industry taking off, a macro look should be taken to
develop a ‘whole ship decontamination’ area. This calls for developing a
CBRN quarantine and associated infrastructure. With competence on NBC
front on the rise, both in security forces and civil world, this should not be
a big issue. Many a studies have been done to identify and carry out such

3. This article is proprietary article and views expressed are personal and
not attributed to any person or any organisation.
Proprietary article: Not to be re-printed or transmitted or copied or paraphrased or quoted
without author’s permission. Contact: jassalnavy@hotmail.com
procedures. While every citizen prays that a day should not come when
these facilities are to be used but then India is precariously placed (Geo-
politically) among the nations where the sense to play such CBRN
mischiefs is high.
Indian Navy’s march in the NBCD front is envious among the three
services. During this author’s tenure in Naval Headquarters/ DSR (2007 to
09), DSR was able to publish all the NBCD INBRs and make a government
case for NBCD manpower, which got realised in 2010. Today, Navy has
led the march ahead with setting up of an independent NBCD Directorate.
A 3 star as IGNS has been in the chair looking after the Nuclear safety
aspects at apex level. Navy’s Arihant, an indigenous nuclear propulsion
submarine, going critical on powering of its nuclear reactor is a source of
joy. Nuclear Triad as envisaged by the Navy would assume more
importance after successfully sailing in nuclear propulsion usage. From
submarine to a Carrier using nuclear propulsion, may not be a far sight.
In the years to come, professionalism in the field of Nuclear exploitation
and safety is going to rise. It is must that NBCD officers are specifically
and correctly trained. All the officers of NBCD branch should have
yearlong Nuclear or Bio-Chemical PG degree/ diploma from the upcoming
Defence university.
On the technological side, rapid leaps are being made by India in civil
nuclear side. Nuclear safety is going to see a rise, as has been for the
nationwide safety drills conducted by NDMA. Chemical hazard/ handling
area is also growing up due to increased awareness of environmental
norms. While the CBRN movement on the land part are moving in a
‘reactive’ way, Indian Navy should retain the lead with ‘proactive’ thinking
edge and enjoy in handling matured technologies comfortably. God bless
Bharat and God bless Bharti Nausena.
About the Author: Cdr Kamaljit Singh Jassal served as Joint Director in DSR at
NHQ and Perspective Planning & Force Structuring Division at HQ IDS. As
Member Secy of SCAPCC, he processed over 400 Capital Acquisition of 3 services
and ICG worth billions. He was instrumental in formulating & obtaining approval
for LTIPP2012-27 and revised Offset Policy. After retirement, he is working as
Country Manager in a US MNC and can be reached at jassalnavy@hotmail.com.