📝India plans 9 new conventional submarines
The government decided that six submarines under Project 75(I) will be followed by an order for three additional ones.
The total planned acquisition under the first phase will be nine submarines.
The make of the three additional submarines is yet to be decided.
India seeks to address a shrinking conventional submarine fleet and counter naval expansion by China and Pakistan.
India faces rapid naval expansion by China and Pakistan.
China currently operates an estimated 65 submarines.
China has outpaced even the US’ submarine-building programme.
Pakistan is expected to induct eight Chinese-origin Hangor-class submarines over the next few years.
Several of the 19 submarines in operation with the Indian Navy will be decommissioned from the late 2030s onwards.
The logic for acquiring three additional submarines under Phase 1 stems from concerns over future force levels of the submarine arm.
Indian planners believe six new conventional submarines alone will be insufficient to maintain the Navy’s underwater edge in the Indian Ocean Region long-term.
Contract modalities for Project 75(I) are being finalised and are expected to be inked later this year.
Six conventional submarines with AIP systems will be built by MDL in collaboration with TKMS under a technology and design transfer protocol.
The contract includes a commercial contract between the Ministry of Defence, MDL, TKMS, and a government-to-government arrangement.
The first Project 75(I) submarine is scheduled for delivery seven years after contract-signing with subsequent submarines yearly.
Initial indigenous content for Project 75(I) is 45 percent.
Indigenisation is expected to rise to 60 percent by the sixth Project 75(I) submarine.
The second phase, Project 76, will involve building at least six more conventional submarines with Indian design and high indigenisation.
Close to two dozen submarines are to be built over the next two decades.
The TKMS-MDL partnership currently enjoys an advantage for Project 76.
Technology, industrial ecosystem, and design expertise from Project 75(I) are expected to form the foundation for Project 76.
The Project 75(I) programme is expected to create a submarine-building ecosystem involving major private companies, MSMEs, and smaller suppliers.
The Indian Navy had earlier proposed acquiring three additional Scorpene-class submarines as a stop-gap measure.
The proposal was made given the delay in Project 75(I).
The Scorpene proposal ran into delays over price negotiations and lost momentum as Project 75(I) gathered pace.
Despite past delays, the proposal for additional Scorpenes remains formally under consideration.
Many critical spare parts for the existing Scorpene fleet continue to be sourced from France.
Project 75(I) aims for significantly higher indigenous content than the existing Scorpene program, excluding labor and infrastructure costs.
| Program | Initial Indigenous Content | Expected Indigenous Content (later submarines) |
|---|---|---|
| Project 75(I) | 45 percent | 60 percent (by sixth submarine) |
| Scorpene (existing) | Less than 20 percent | — |
The French government and Naval Group continued to push for a follow-on Scorpene programme.
A fleet of nine boats, rather than six, would make the supply chain more sustainable and cost-effective.
The additional three Scorpenes were supposed to come with 60 percent indigenous content.
Proposed Scorpene submarines would be larger, more capable, and offer enhanced endurance and weapon load compared to the existing fleet.
| Feature | Existing Scorpene Fleet | Proposed Scorpene Submarines |
|---|---|---|
| Size and Capability | Standard | Larger and more capable |
| Mission Endurance | Standard | Nearly double |
| Weapon Load | Standard | More than twice |
| Growth Margins | — | Retain for future weapon integration |
MDL submitted a bid on August 11, 2023, for three additional Scorpene-class submarines under a repeat order of Project 75.
MDL initially submitted a bid exceeding Rs 50,000 crore for the three additional submarines.
Following negotiations, the cost was eventually brought down to around Rs 36,000 crore.
Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said in December 2024 that the deal would be signed by January 2025.
The Scorpene proposal never went through because Project 75(I) had cleared critical stages.
A high-level meeting concluded with the Indian Navy favoring pursuing the new German boats with AIP first.
The government decided that six submarines under Project 75(I) will be followed by an order for three additional ones.
The total planned acquisition under the first phase will be nine submarines.
The make of the three additional submarines is yet to be decided.
India seeks to address a shrinking conventional submarine fleet and counter naval expansion by China and Pakistan.
India faces rapid naval expansion by China and Pakistan.
China currently operates an estimated 65 submarines.
China has outpaced even the US’ submarine-building programme.
Pakistan is expected to induct eight Chinese-origin Hangor-class submarines over the next few years.
Several of the 19 submarines in operation with the Indian Navy will be decommissioned from the late 2030s onwards.
The logic for acquiring three additional submarines under Phase 1 stems from concerns over future force levels of the submarine arm.
Indian planners believe six new conventional submarines alone will be insufficient to maintain the Navy’s underwater edge in the Indian Ocean Region long-term.
Contract modalities for Project 75(I) are being finalised and are expected to be inked later this year.
Six conventional submarines with AIP systems will be built by MDL in collaboration with TKMS under a technology and design transfer protocol.
The contract includes a commercial contract between the Ministry of Defence, MDL, TKMS, and a government-to-government arrangement.
The first Project 75(I) submarine is scheduled for delivery seven years after contract-signing with subsequent submarines yearly.
Initial indigenous content for Project 75(I) is 45 percent.
Indigenisation is expected to rise to 60 percent by the sixth Project 75(I) submarine.
The second phase, Project 76, will involve building at least six more conventional submarines with Indian design and high indigenisation.
Close to two dozen submarines are to be built over the next two decades.
The TKMS-MDL partnership currently enjoys an advantage for Project 76.
Technology, industrial ecosystem, and design expertise from Project 75(I) are expected to form the foundation for Project 76.
The Project 75(I) programme is expected to create a submarine-building ecosystem involving major private companies, MSMEs, and smaller suppliers.
The Indian Navy had earlier proposed acquiring three additional Scorpene-class submarines as a stop-gap measure.
The proposal was made given the delay in Project 75(I).
The Scorpene proposal ran into delays over price negotiations and lost momentum as Project 75(I) gathered pace.
Despite past delays, the proposal for additional Scorpenes remains formally under consideration.
Many critical spare parts for the existing Scorpene fleet continue to be sourced from France.
Project 75(I) aims for significantly higher indigenous content than the existing Scorpene program, excluding labor and infrastructure costs.
| Program | Initial Indigenous Content | Expected Indigenous Content (later submarines) |
|---|---|---|
| Project 75(I) | 45 percent | 60 percent (by sixth submarine) |
| Scorpene (existing) | Less than 20 percent | — |
The French government and Naval Group continued to push for a follow-on Scorpene programme.
A fleet of nine boats, rather than six, would make the supply chain more sustainable and cost-effective.
The additional three Scorpenes were supposed to come with 60 percent indigenous content.
Proposed Scorpene submarines would be larger, more capable, and offer enhanced endurance and weapon load compared to the existing fleet.
| Feature | Existing Scorpene Fleet | Proposed Scorpene Submarines |
|---|---|---|
| Size and Capability | Standard | Larger and more capable |
| Mission Endurance | Standard | Nearly double |
| Weapon Load | Standard | More than twice |
| Growth Margins | — | Retain for future weapon integration |
MDL submitted a bid on August 11, 2023, for three additional Scorpene-class submarines under a repeat order of Project 75.
MDL initially submitted a bid exceeding Rs 50,000 crore for the three additional submarines.
Following negotiations, the cost was eventually brought down to around Rs 36,000 crore.
Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said in December 2024 that the deal would be signed by January 2025.
The Scorpene proposal never went through because Project 75(I) had cleared critical stages.
A high-level meeting concluded with the Indian Navy favoring pursuing the new German boats with AIP first.