SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Navy’s much-anticipated field evaluation trials for the S-80 Plus diesel-electric submarines equipped with the Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology (BEST) Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system will likely be delayed until 2025.
The delay stems from the sequential rollout of the S-80 Plus submarines being constructed by Navantia for the Spanish Navy. The first submarine to be integrated with the BEST AIP system is Cosme García (S-83). However, its sea trials are expected to commence only later this year or in early 2025. This pushes back the field evaluation trials for the Indian Navy.
Isaac Peral’s (S-81) first submarine already has been launched and Narciso de Monturiol (S-82) second submarine is slated for launch later in 2024, lacks the BEST AIP system. They will be retrofitted with the system during their first major overhauls.
TKMS’ U-212 submarines, that is also on offer as part of the P-75I program, successfully completed field evaluation trials last month, showcasing their Fuel-Cell based AIP system. While the U-212 trials demonstrate AIP capabilities, the Indian Navy is specifically interested in evaluating the BEST system since it’s a gen head of a Fuel-Cell based AIP system.
The delay presents a waiting game for the Indian Navy. Despite the successful U-212 trials, they cannot definitively assess the BEST system until Cosme García undergoes field evaluation trials in 2025.
Since there are only two submarine offers in the Project-75i program to acquire six next-generation submarines, The Indian Navy will likely have to wait until 2025 to assess the effectiveness of the BEST AIP system in real-world conditions.
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