Under Project 75 Alpha, the Indian Navy intends to acquire new nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN). In February 2015, the Indian government approved the construction of six such submarines. These will be designed in-house by the Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and built in India at the Visakhapatnam Shipbuilding Centre. The construction is expected to begin in 2023-24, with the first submarine entering service in 2032.
Given that India is a traditional user of Russian nuclear submarines (with INS Chakra on lease), the new domestically built submarines would be the Indian navy’s third class of SSN, following the leased Charlie I and Akula II-class submarines.
About Project-75
Project-75 (I) envisions the indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines outfitted with cutting-edge equipment, weapons, and sensors, such as a fuel-cell-powered AIP (Air Independent Propulsion Plant), advanced torpedoes, modern missiles, and cutting-edge countermeasure systems.
This would significantly boost India’s indigenous submarine design and construction capability, as well as bring in cutting-edge submarine design and technologies as part of the project.
Also read: Complete List Of Submarines Operated By Indian Navy
The overall goal would be to gradually build indigenous capabilities in the private sector to design, develop, and manufacture complex weapon systems for the Armed Forces’ future needs.
The GOI 30-year Submarine Plan
The GoI approved a 30-year submarine-building plan around the time of the Kargil war. It called for the indigenous construction of 24 submarines by 2030. The submarine construction plan included separate submarine construction lines known as Project 75 and Project 75I.
There will be 18 conventional submarines and 6 nuclear-powered submarines among the 24 submarines to be built in India.
Indi’s Submarine Arsenal.
Only half of India’s 16 conventional submarines, including the Scorpene, are currently operational at any given time.
List of Submarine India is having:
Nuclear Powered:
- INS Arihant (S2)
- INS Arighat (S3)
Diesel-Electric Powered:
- INS Kalvari (S21)
- INS Khanderi (S22)
- INS Karanj (S23)
- INS Vela (S24)
- INS Vagir (S25)
- INS Shishumar (S44)
- INS Shankush (S45)
- INS Shalki (S46)
- INS Shankul (S47)
- INS Sindhughosh (S55)
- INS Sindhuraj (S57)
- INS Sindhuratna (S59)
- INS Sindhukesari (S60)
- INS Sindhukirti (S61)
- INS Sindhuvijay (S62)
- INS Sindhurashtra (S65)
Submarines under Project-75 A
The Indian Navy’s Project 75 called for the construction of six Scorpene-class attack submarines. The Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) is building six Scorpene submarines with technical assistance from the French Naval Group.
Also read: Indian Navy Commissioned Fifth Kalvari Class Submarine Vagir
The Indian Navy has commissioned all six submarines: INS Kalavari, INS Khanderi, and INS Kharanj, the 4th and 5th submarines, the INS Vela and INS Vagir, and the 6th Vagsheer. The diesel-electric propulsion systems power the Project-75 Scorpene-Class submarines.
Significance of Project 75
- It is one of the most significant ‘Make in India’ projects. It will allow for faster and more significant technological adoption, as well as the development of a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India.
- It promotes self-sufficiency by reducing current reliance on imports while gradually ensuring the dependability of supplies from indigenous sources.
- It serves as a deterrent against China and Pakistan, as well as to protect the Indo-Pacific region:
- According to the Indian Navy, the Pakistan Navy has ten submarines, five of which are French-origin Agosta 90B class (Khalid class) conventional vessels.
- Pakistan and China have agreed to purchase eight conventional submarines.
- China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is thought to have nine SSNs and four Jin-class SSBNs.
Conclusion
Unless the gap in naval prowess is closed quickly, India will be further disadvantaged in countering China’s desire to dominate the Indian Ocean. If India is to walk the talk on the Quad (India, Australia, the United States, and Japan) and its Indo-Pacific ambitions, the defense bureaucracy must address the modernization delay as soon as possible. To halt the decline in its relative capabilities, India must change its decision-making processes as well as its complicated acquisition process.
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