India approves local construction of 6 new AIP-capable submarines

A Kalvari-class submarine during launch. The class was based on the Scorpene diesel-electric submarine design by Naval Group-DCNS of France.

The Indian Ministry of Defense (MOD) has finally approved the local construction of 6 stealth submarines last 31 January 2019, under the Project 75(I) program.

The new submarines would be installed with the latest Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, as well as land attack capability. The project is expected to cost around INR400 billion / 40,000 crore, or around US$5.62 billion.

As required by the program, an Indian shipbuilder must collaborate with a submarine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) as part of the "Make in India" policy.

The project is considered long delay, since confirmation to implement Project 76(I) was made as early as 2007.

Among foreign shipbuilders that responded to a Request for Information (RFI) sent out by the Indian MOD in 2017 include Naval Group-DCNS of France, ThyssenKrupp Marine System (TKMS) of Germany, Rosoboronexport - Rubin Design Bureau of Russia, and Saab Kockums of Sweden.

Naval Group-DCNS is perceived as most likely to win as the foreign collaborator, and Mazagon Dock Limited of India as the local partner, due to their collaboration on the earlier Project 75 submarine program that resulted to the construction of the Kalvari-class submarines based on Naval Group's Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines. But the Indian MOD is still open to changes in the companies to actually get the contract.

It is also expected that it would take another 7 to 8 years until an actual submarine can be completed.



[1] IHS Jane's
[2] Times of India
[3] NDTV