SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is on the cusp of a historic milestone as its proposal for an indigenous conventional submarine under Project-76 is set to seek approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) within the next couple of months. This ambitious initiative, aimed at bolstering the Indian Navy’s underwater fleet with six new diesel-electric submarines, promises to achieve an unprecedented 90% to 95% indigenous content. With a design phase expected to span three years and construction slated for five more, the first submarine could join the fleet by 2033, marking a significant leap in India’s quest for self-reliance in naval technology.
The Project-76 proposal, a continuation of the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) program that birthed the Arihant-class nuclear submarines, reflects lessons from decades of submarine-building experience. DRDO, in collaboration with the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), has completed a preliminary study—approved by the Ministry of Defence in mid-2024—and now awaits CCS sanction to kickstart the detailed design phase. “The design is expected to take up to three years, followed by five years for construction,” a DRDO official told The Hindu, aligning with Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi’s earlier projection of a first induction around 2036-37. This eight-year timeline positions Project-76 as a parallel effort to the ongoing Project-75I, with both programs set to redefine India’s maritime prowess.
What sets Project-76 apart is its audacious target of 90% to 95% indigenous content—an ambitious leap from the 70-80% initially floated in earlier discussions. Major systems, including weapons, missiles, combat management systems, sonars, communications, electronic warfare suites, masts, and periscopes, will be sourced domestically, with only select chips, electronics, and tubes imported. This mirrors the Arihant-class SSBNs, which boast over 90% local content, and leverages advancements like DRDO’s phosphoric acid-based Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, scalable to 20 kW per fuel cell for extended underwater endurance.
The submarines, envisioned at 3,000-4,000 tons submerged displacement, will incorporate cutting-edge features: lithium-ion batteries for efficiency, pump-jet propulsion for stealth, and possibly vertical launch systems (VLS) for cruise missiles—drawing inspiration from the Kalvari-class (Project-75) and the nuclear SSN program. This high indigenous quotient not only reduces reliance on foreign OEMs but also positions India as a potential exporter, boosting its defense industry under “Make in India.”
As Project-76 gears up, the Indian Navy is simultaneously advancing Project-75I, a ?70,000 crore deal to procure six conventional submarines with AIP. Contract negotiations are set to begin soon, with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) emerging as frontrunners after clearing technical evaluations in 2024. The first Project-75I sub is expected seven years post-contract—around 2032—meaning both programs will progress in tandem, with Project-76’s indigenous design benefiting from 75I’s technology transfers.
While Project-75I relies on German collaboration , Project-76 is India’s first fully in-house submarine design effort. DRDO and MDL are even competing internally, with MDL targeting its own design reveal by 2028—potentially offering the Navy dual options. This “double-barreled” approach, as one analyst dubbed it, ensures flexibility and innovation, though it risks stretching resources thin amid India’s 17 aging submarines (Kilo, HDW, and Scorpene classes) nearing retirement.
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