India is moving to strengthen its undersea fleet with three more Kalvari-class submarines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put the proposal at the front of the country's maritime modernisation plans, Hindustan Times reported. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) will build the submarines with France's Naval Group.
The project is estimated to cost around ₹33,000 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is expected to consider a revised proposal.
Why Does the Navy Need More Submarines?
The Indian Navy operates six Kalvari-class submarines. The latest is INS Vaghsheer, launched in April 2022. The older Shishumar-class and Sindhughosh-class submarines are close to the end of their service lives, so planners worry that submarine numbers could fall by the end of the decade.
The need is more urgent because Pakistan is expected to induct eight Chinese-origin Type-039 Yuan-class submarines between 2028 and 2030. These submarines have Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), which could greatly improve Pakistan's underwater warfare capability. China's growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region adds to the challenge.
The proposal had earlier been put on hold while planners prioritised Project 75(I), India's next-generation AIP submarine programme. That programme has been delayed, partly because DRDO's indigenous AIP system is still being validated. Germany's TKMS has offered proven AIP technology for it.
What Upgrades Will the New Submarines Get?
The three new submarines will have several improvements over the current fleet:
- NATO-standard torpedoes
- DRDO-developed heavyweight torpedoes
- Submarine-launched SCALP cruise missiles with a range of about 800 km
At first, they will run on lead-acid batteries. They are being designed so they can later switch to lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries store more energy, so the submarines would stay underwater longer, move faster and be harder to detect.
A Boost for Make in India and Exports
The programme will keep MDL's submarine-building ecosystem active and develop the skills of its engineers, designers and workers. The Naval Group is transferring extensive technology, so India could become a regional submarine manufacturing hub. It could then build submarines for friendly nations such as Indonesia.
India's Nuclear Submarine Programme Is Also Growing
The government has already approved two conventionally armed nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). The Navy is also expected to lease another Russian SSN by 2028, and the ballistic missile submarine fleet is set to grow.
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