Brig Arvind Dhananjayan

India’s Submarine Development Plan (SDP)-2030 is quantitatively focused on development of Diesel-Electric Attack (DEA) submarines (SSKs) and Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs). It is complimented with the development and induction of SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines capable of firing ballistic missiles), which is imperative for nuclear deterrence on a regional and global scale to counterbalance the threat of China’s fast-paced naval modernization.

The Indian Navy currently operates two nuclear-powered attack submarines – INS Arihant and INS Arighat. INS Arihant was commissioned in 2016, and INS Arighat in 2022. The Indian Navy plans to build six SSNs of the Arihant class. The third and fourth submarines in the class, INS Aridhaman and INS Arighot, are under construction. The fifth and sixth submarines are still in the design stage.

The Indian Navy’s future plans for its SSN fleet include the construction of the Scorpene-class SSNs as explained in this article.

Acquisition of DEA Submarines/SSNs

Being largely oriented towards regional operations, the Indian Navy is predominantly focused on efforts towards safeguarding India’s territorial waters and deterring any inimical act of aggression by a potential adversary, either off the Eastern/Western Seaboards and the avenues of ingress into these waters or in the Northern Indian Ocean, which is traversed by favourable Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC). Concomitantly, China and Pakistan would have to set aside substantial naval resources to offset a surface and sub-surface threat from the Indian Navy to its naval patrols and mercantile shipping in these waters. The Indian Navy would also be tasked to effectively blockade Pakistan Navy’s attempts at any maritime misadventure off the peninsula. These tasks make it essential to have capabilities, among others, for maritime deterrence and sea denial.  While the former is a fallout of the combined operational capability of the Indian Navy, the latter would largely constitute the responsibility of the submarine arm.

Such an argument, among other financial and temporal considerations, would have influenced the decision to persevere with acquisition of modern SSKs and SSNs as part of the SDP.

Apart from the SSBNs mentioned, the acquisition of SSNs would significantly enhance the reach and stealth quotient of India’s sub-surface fleet, as SSNs have the capability to carry out fleeting attacks on an adversary’s static and sea-based assets, while staying submerged for protracted periods.

Growing Submarine Arm

Following the decision to introduce submarines into the Indian Navy six decades ago, imports and collaborative submarine-building ventures with foreign firms have effectively maintained a credible sub-surface fleet. In the aftermath of the Kargil War, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a 30-year SDP to enable acquisition of 24 conventional submarines. Thus came into being a two-phase plan, with Project-75 and Project-75 (I) [75 (India)] constituting the initial phase, each envisaging development of six SSKs. The subsequent phase of 12 SSKs was envisaged to be undertaken indigenously. However, in keeping with the rapidly expanding maritime threat from China, the Indian Navy approached the CCS in early 2021, with a proposal to replace six of the balance 12 SSKs with SSNs, under the moniker of Project-75A/76.

Project-75, in collaboration with the French Naval Group (formerly DCNS), has now fructified, with five Kalvari Class (Scorpene) submarines having been commissioned and the sixth undergoing sea-trials.

Project 75A/76 

Project 75A/76 envisages the indigenous development of six SSNs over the present and next decade, with 6000-ton displacements and an overall projected cost of Rs. 96,000 crores. These vessels will be designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and manufactured at Vishakhapatnam.

Advanced Technology Vessel

In order to enhance the Indian Navy’s strategic reach, the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme was commissioned, envisaging development of four SSBNs (INS Arihant, commissioned in August 2016 and INS Arighat undergoing sea-trials, with two more larger vessels under development). These submarines would provide practically unlimited range, with intercontinental strike capability, as a component of India’s nuclear triad. These developments were spurred on by the void created due to termination of a brief three-year lease of INS Chakra-I, a Soviet SSN, which ended in 1991; and the subsequent expiry last year of a 10-year lease of INS-Chakra-II, an Akula-II Class SSN from Russia. A further addition to these ranks will come in the form of another Akula Class Russian submarine, INS Chakra-III, slated to be leased in 2025 for 10 years.

Project-75 (I)

Project-75 (I) could not be progressed concurrently as envisaged under the 30-year plan due to various reasons. Hence, the Naval Staff Qualitative Requirements for the project were modified to include procurement of SSKs with state-of-the-art Air-Independent-Propulsion (AIP) systems, enabling them to stay submerged for longer durations and substantially increasing their operational range and lethality. 

In October 2014, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) decided that all six submarines would be constructed in India, and in June 2017, it was reported that the contract for construction would be awarded under the “Strategic Partnership” Model (SPM). This referred to participation of Indian firms along with foreign manufacturers under the ‘Make in India’ paradigm of Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020. The DAC subsequently approved an enhanced budget in January 2019.

Concurrently, an Empowered Project Committee (EPC) was constituted to steer the project till contract conclusion and Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project was accorded.  In January 2020, the EPC shortlisted Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and MDL as the two Indian firms that would collaborate with one of five shortlisted foreign manufacturers for the project. On 20 July 2021, the CCS allowed issuance of Request for Proposal (RFP) under the SPM to both Indian firms for a total amount of ?43,000 Crores, making this the first project under the SPM and India’s largest defence acquisition project!

The SPM envisages the setting up of manufacturing lines in India along with Transfer-of-Technology. Consequently, three of the five shortlisted foreign vendors exited, citing unfavourable contract clauses. Acceptance of the RFP by the balance two foreign firms saw MDL signing a pre-emptive agreement with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in June 2023, while L&T had signed a Teaming Agreement with Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia on 11 April 2023 – both for the purpose of submitting a techno-commercial bid for the project. As per these pre-emptive agreements, Navantia would, if shortlisted, design and develop these submarines based on its Isaac Peral S-80 Submarine (due to be delivered to the Spanish Navy by end 2023), which boasts the most advanced AIP system in the world today. TKMS is, meanwhile, reported to be offering its Type 214/218 DEA submarines with AIP. Induction of Project-75 (I) submarines is expected to commence by the end of this decade.

Recent Developments

As part of the SDP, the DND, assisted by the DRDO, is reportedly working on the design of an indigenous DEA with AIP, soon envisioned to become the mainstay of India’s future SSK fleet. The DAC, in its meeting on 13 July, discussed the acquisition of three more Kalveri Class (Scorpene) submarines with AIP, as outlined in Project 75 (I), to be built at MDL and validated by France’s Naval Group, likely via a Government-to-Government contract. The Naval Group had earlier set up a 100% owned subsidiary, Naval Group India, with presence in New Delhi and Mumbai, to oversee the ‘Make in India’ commitment of Project-75, with an investment of over Rs 100 crores for establishment of three workshops for maintenance, spares and future refit of the Project-75 submarines. These workshops are also involved in validating the DRDO-developed AIP system for installation on existing submarines and those proposed for acquisition. An MoU between Naval Group and MDL was also reportedly signed, on 6 July 2023, for collaboration on the proposed acquisition of the additional submarines, which would include fitting of indigenous AIP and other onboard systems, resulting in a significantly higher indigenous content than before. Naval Group India would also oversee the fitting of indigenous AIP on existing Project-75 submarines as they commence their refit, beginning with INS Kalvari in 2024. The fitting of the indigenous AIP plug would require certain modifications to the hull of the submarines, including extension in length and subsequent integration, which would also be overseen by the Naval Group.

The revised Indo-French Joint Statement, issued on 14 July at the end of prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France to mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, omits specific mention of these submarines but reiterates the joint readiness of both nations to explore development projects for expansion of India’s submarine fleet. This may be construed as a positive indicator for fruition of such acquisition by India.

Presently, design work for the SSNs is underway at the Submarine Design Group (SDG) under the DND, with the preliminary design phase having been completed in early 2020. The SDG, assisted by DRDO, is presently involved in the detailed design phase of the project. Construction of SSNs is expected to commence in 2023-24. with the first submarine expected to enter service in 2032.

Comments

Surveillance over India’s vast 7,500 km coastline, a 2 mn square Exclusive Economic Zone, and island territories off the eastern/ western coasts is a colossal mandate. Add to this the onerous responsibility of being a ‘net security provider’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and India’s Navy and Coast Guard are landed with the unenviable charge of protecting India’s waters/seaboards from all forms of economic/military intrusion. Both China and Pakistan have viable navies capable of choking India’s maritime trade and denying operational sea-space for military or mercantile movement. Apropos, the Indian Navy on the cusp of metamorphosing into a genuine blue-water force, needs to be able to project maritime power, control sea-space for furtherance of own operations and deny the same to India’s potential adversaries. It is therefore imperative that India looks at self-reliance and indigenization to consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of its surface and sub-surface arsenal.

With 18 operational submarines at present, the Indian Navy’s Submarine Development Plan constitutes a much-needed fillip, in addition to the existing sub-surface fleet undergoing regular planned refit, refurbishment and modernization, to maintain its submarine arm as a potent and lethal sub-surface force.

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The fifth diesel attack submarine 1775 tonne INS Vagir was commissioned by Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar on Monday at MDL in Mumbai and the sixth of the Kalvari class INS Vagsheer is expected to be commissioned later this year or early 2024.

According to South Block officials, the Indian Navy is expected to approach the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) soon for acceptance of necessity (AoN) for three more diesel attack submarines under the “Make in India” project with the French Naval Group expected to test the DRDO developed AIP system before fitting in the new submarines. Initially, the Navy had the option to construct three more submarines after contracting six with the Naval group, but this option was cancelled in 2016 after Naval Headquarters wanted the government to clear six submarines under Project 75 (I) or fitted with AIP after floating global tenders.

While the Defence Ministry floated request for information for its Project 75 (I) in August 2021, major submarine design and developers except for South Korea showed little interest in making AIP fitted submarines for India as lithium-ion technology had taken over conventional attack submarines and the big P-5 powers were only making nuclear powered conventional attack submarines or SSNs. Given the possibility of a single vendor option apart from the Modi government totally committed to “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, the Navy went back to the drawing board on the submarine line.

With China rapidly expanding its Navy including nuclear attack submarines, the Indian Navy could ill-afford to keep its functioning submarine construction line at MDL idle while debates went on about the right submarine to acquire for India’s maritime security (a must, given the country’s 7500 km long coastline). The Kalvari class submarines or Project 75 was approved by the A B Vajpayee government in 1997 and the project was expedited in 1999 after the Kargil War with Pakistan. The first Kalvari class submarine was commissioned 18 years later on December 14, 2017, with the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar urging the Navy to exercise the option for the additional three submarines soon.

It is understood that the Indian Navy’s leadership is now rethinking Parrikar’s proposal and is expected to ask for three more Kalvari class submarines fitted with DRDO’s AIP. The same AIP will be retrofitted into existing Kalvari class submarines when they come to MDL for a mid-life refit.

While the Navy wants three indigenous nuclear attack submarines to expand its footprint in the Indo-Pacific, there is a strong possibility that India and France may collaborate to export Kalvari or Scorpene submarines to countries such as Indonesia. India’s sea based nuclear deterrent is operational with two nuclear powered nuclear ballistic missile armed submarines already patrolling global waters and a third under fitment.

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The Naval Group has mentioned the conditions in the request for proposal (RFP) as the reason for exiting the project.

The Ministry of Defence had in July last year issued an order to build six submarines for the Indian Navy.

The cost of this project named Project 75 (India) is Rs 43,000 crore.

In his first trip abroad this year, Prime Minister Modi will embark on a three-day visit to Germany, Denmark and France from May 2.

The RFP was sent to five big companies, including France’s Naval Group-DCNS, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, Germany’s Thyssenkrupp, Spain’s Navantia and South Korea’s Daewoo, around the world for the Project 75 (I).

These five companies had to choose between two Indian companies, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) or Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to manufacture these six submarines in India.

All three European and Russian companies have now pulled out of this project, leaving only Navantia and Daewoo in the race.

The Naval Group is making six Scorpène-class submarines in collaboration with MDL.

Of these, four, the Kalvari-class submarines, have joined the Navy, the fifth is under sea-trial and the sixth Vagsheer was launched earlier this month.

The Ministry of Defence had in April 2021 cleared the way for the construction of six new stealth submarines for the Indian Navy amid the challenges being faced by China in the Indian Ocean.

The Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had given the green signal to Project 75 (I) under the Strategic Partnership Model.

The ministry had post that in July 2021 issued RFP for six conventional stealth submarines under this project.

As this project will be completed under the Strategic-Partnership model, the Defence Ministry had also issued the RFP to MDL and L&T.

The provision was to build these six conventional submarines in the country only in a joint venture with a foreign company.

These are six conventional submarines of course, but they are AIP ie Air-Independent Propulsion Submarine.

The advantage of this is that they will not need to get out of the sea again and again like a diesel-electric submarine. That is, in a way, they are stealth-submarines.

These six submarines are Air Independent Propulsion.

Air Independent Propulsion or Air Independent Power is any marine propulsion technology that allows non-nuclear submarines to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. The advantage of this is that these stealth-submarines do not need to be taken out of the sea like the diesel-electric submarines.

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The sixth and last submarine of the Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class submarines of Project 75 was launched on 20 April at the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL). It is being manufactured jointly with the Naval Group, France. The first of the P-75 submarines was inducted into the Navy in December 2017.

The sixth submarine will now commence setting to work on various equipment and harbour trials. The crew will thereafter sail the submarine for the rigorous sea acceptance trials after which it would be delivered to the Indian Navy by late 2023.

These six submarines will add to the Navy’s underwater capability as most of the 15 conventional submarines with India are more than 25 years old.

Project 75 (India)

The decision on Project 75 (India) is getting delayed and even if it gets the go-ahead it might take another two years to begin. Project-75(I) envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines with contemporary equipment, weapons and sensors including AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state of the art countermeasure systems.

This would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project.

While P-75 is reaching the end of its cycle the contract for the next six should have been signed as it would lead to a gap of a few years again till the next set of submarine construction will start. The contract for P-75 was signed in 2005. Earlier, in 1994 India manufactured two German submarines but the gap of 11 years led to loss of this specialised skill.

Next-Gen Offshore Patrol Vessels

Goa Shipyard Limited has emerged as the leading shipyard to build the Indian Navy’s next generation off-shore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) and eight fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard.  A  contract for seven NGOPVs valued at around Rs 9,000 crore is expected to be signed with GSL while four will be built by another shipyard.

The naval off-shore patrol vessels will play a key role in protection of offshore assets, undertaking mine countermeasure operations through modular payloads and also aid special operations.

GSL has undergone various modernisation. It emerged as L1 (lowest bider) for a contract to build fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard and to build the Navy’s next generation off-shore patrol vessels.

In 2018, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved the procurement of six indigenously designed NGOPVs for the Indian Navy at an approximate cost of Rs 4,941 crore. The contract was awarded to the Anil Ambani-owned Pipavav Shipyards but was ultimately scrapped due to several delays. The defence ministry then increased the number of platforms for the Indian Navy to 11 in December 2020 and a tender worth over Rs 9,000 crore was floated, which GSL is now on the verge of bagging.

The NGOPVs will strengthen India’s maritime security as the acquisition of the advanced patrol vessels will help the navy track and counter the steady rise in the deployment of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean Region and in Indian waters.

Multi-purpose Vessels Deal with L&T

The Ministry of Defence, on 25 March, signed a contract with Indian conglomerate, Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) for the acquisition of two multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) for the Indian Navy. The Rs 887 crore deal was signed under the “Buy-Indian” category. Delivery of vessels is scheduled to commence from May 2025.

MPVs will be the first of its kind platform, constructed to provide a cost-effective solution to meet a variety of requirements of the Indian Navy. These vessels, to be built by L&T shipyard at Kattupally (Chennai), will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance and patrol, launching/ recovery of torpedoes and operation of various types of aerial, surface and underwater targets for Gunnery/ ASW firing exercises.

These vessels would also be capable of towing ships and rendering Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support with limited hospital ship capability. They will also act as a trial platform for naval weapons and sensors under development, a support platform for ISV and salvage operations, and to provide logistics support for India’s island territories.

High-speed Interceptor Boats Inducted

The Indian Navy inducted two Fast Interceptor Craft (FICs) into its fleet in Kolkata, on 16 March, to beef up its coastal security. The vessels will enable enhanced riverine patrol on the Hooghly river as well as gradually extend patrolling capability seawards.

The high-speed vessels – T323 and T324 – capable of operating in shallow waters were acquired for Sagar Prahari Bal, a unit of the Navy created post 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as part of the coastal security construct.

The high-speed vessels can operate in the Hooghly as well as in the Bay of Bengal at sand heads and can reach speed of up to 45 knots. The FICs positioned by the Indian Navy will augment the Coastal Security capability of the Indian Navy in the State of West Bengal.

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