SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant development within Indo-French defence relations, France has extended its expertise and advanced technologies to support the Indian Navy’s ambitious submarine acquisition programs under Project-76 and Project-77. Project-76 envisions the acquisition of 12 next-generation conventional diesel-electric submarines, planned in two phases with six submarines in each phase, while Project-77 focuses on developing nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) to bolster India’s strategic deterrent capabilities. France’s willingness to provide its cutting-edge pumpjet propulsion technology for both programs underlines its commitment to a deeper, long-term defence partnership with India.
Project 76 aims to elevate the Indian Navy’s conventional submarine fleet through the induction of advanced diesel-electric submarines with enhanced stealth and operational capabilities. France has been keen to support India in this endeavour, offering expertise honed through decades of experience with its own Barracuda and Scorpène-class submarines. In particular, France has proposed its pumpjet propulsion technology, a quieter alternative to traditional propellers, which significantly reduces acoustic signature and enhances underwater stealth. This technology is particularly advantageous for conventional submarines, as it allows them to operate undetected in hostile waters, providing a critical edge in India’s underwater warfare capabilities.
With the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) working together on two separate designs for Project-76, France’s offer could help streamline the integration of pumpjet technology into the submarine designs. Additionally, adopting pumpjet propulsion could position India’s upcoming submarine fleet on par with those of advanced navies globally, such as those of France and the United Kingdom, which already employ pumpjets in their submarine fleets.
Project-77, India’s program to develop nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), holds immense strategic value for India as it works to enhance its deterrence and secure maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Nuclear attack submarines offer the advantage of extended endurance and sustained underwater operations, critical for India’s extended patrol and rapid-response capabilities. France has shown interest in supporting Project-77 by offering its pumpjet propulsion for India’s future SSNs, which could make these vessels quieter, faster, and more efficient in evading enemy detection.
By equipping Project-77 submarines with pumpjet technology, India could substantially enhance the operational stealth and survivability of its nuclear-powered attack submarines. Given the rapid modernization of submarine fleets by regional powers like China, an investment in advanced propulsion systems would enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to maintain a strategic edge in the underwater domain.
Pumpjet propulsion technology is a sophisticated form of propulsion that differs from conventional propellers. It employs a combination of an impeller and stator housed in a shroud, which not only improves thrust efficiency but also minimizes cavitation—the formation of bubbles that generate noise and reveal the submarine’s position. France’s pumpjet technology is in use in its own Barracuda-class submarines, which have gained a reputation for being among the stealthiest submarines globally. By leveraging this technology, India would gain access to a quieter and more capable propulsion system for both conventional and nuclear submarine programs.
Pumpjet technology’s added stealth capabilities would be invaluable for the Indian Navy, especially as it seeks to counterbalance growing maritime threats in the Indo-Pacific. Enhanced underwater stealth would enable Indian submarines to conduct patrols, surveillance, and potential strike missions with a reduced risk of detection, bolstering India’s maritime security posture.
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