India plans to acquire nine new conventional diesel-electric submarines, instead of six, in the first phase of ramping up underwater capabilities.

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First phase submarine acquisition plan

The government decided that six submarines under Project 75(I) will be followed by an order for three additional ones.

Rationale for increased submarine acquisition

India seeks to address a shrinking conventional submarine fleet and counter naval expansion by China and Pakistan.

Project 75(I) contract finalization

Contract modalities for Project 75(I) are being finalised and are expected to be inked later this year.

Future submarine acquisition phases

The second phase, Project 76, will involve building at least six more conventional submarines with Indian design and high indigenisation.

Additional Scorpene submarines proposal

The Indian Navy had earlier proposed acquiring three additional Scorpene-class submarines as a stop-gap measure.

Reason for Scorpene proposal

The proposal was made given the delay in Project 75(I).

Past Scorpene proposal delays

The Scorpene proposal ran into delays over price negotiations and lost momentum as Project 75(I) gathered pace.

Scorpene proposal under consideration

Despite past delays, the proposal for additional Scorpenes remains formally under consideration.

Long-term maintenance concerns Scorpene

Many critical spare parts for the existing Scorpene fleet continue to be sourced from France.

Indigenous Content: Project 75(I) vs Scorpene

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	—

French push for follow-on Scorpene

The French government and Naval Group continued to push for a follow-on Scorpene programme.

Supply chain sustainability argument

A fleet of nine boats, rather than six, would make the supply chain more sustainable and cost-effective.

Proposed Scorpene indigenous content

The additional three Scorpenes were supposed to come with 60 percent indigenous content.

Proposed vs Existing Scorpene Capabilities

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's Scorpene bid details

MDL submitted a bid on August 11, 2023, for three additional Scorpene-class submarines under a repeat order of Project 75.

Former Navy chief's projection

Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said in December 2024 that the deal would be signed by January 2025.

Scorpene proposal not approved

The Scorpene proposal never went through because Project 75(I) had cleared critical stages.

Indian Navy preferred German boats

A high-level meeting concluded with the Indian Navy favoring pursuing the new German boats with AIP first.

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APEX

India plans 9 new conventional submarines

India plans to acquire nine new conventional diesel-electric submarines, instead of six, in the first phase of ramping up underwater capabilities.

Made with Rinto — analyse your own content free

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NTRL

First phase submarine acquisition plan

The government decided that six submarines under Project 75(I) will be followed by an order for three additional ones.

DAT-N

Total acquisition phase one

The total planned acquisition under the first phase will be nine submarines.

DAT-N

Additional 3 submarine make

The make of the three additional submarines is yet to be decided.

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SUP

Rationale for increased submarine acquisition

India seeks to address a shrinking conventional submarine fleet and counter naval expansion by China and Pakistan.

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EVI-S

China and Pakistan naval expansion

India faces rapid naval expansion by China and Pakistan.

DAT-S

China's submarine fleet size

China currently operates an estimated 65 submarines.

DAT-S

China's submarine building program

China has outpaced even the US’ submarine-building programme.

DAT-S

Pakistan's planned submarine induction

Pakistan is expected to induct eight Chinese-origin Hangor-class submarines over the next few years.

EVI-S

Decommissioning of Indian Navy submarines

Several of the 19 submarines in operation with the Indian Navy will be decommissioned from the late 2030s onwards.

INSG

Concern over future force levels

The logic for acquiring three additional submarines under Phase 1 stems from concerns over future force levels of the submarine arm.

JUST

Six submarines alone insufficient

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.

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NTRL

Project 75(I) contract finalization

Contract modalities for Project 75(I) are being finalised and are expected to be inked later this year.

NTRL

Project 75(I) collaboration details

Six conventional submarines with AIP systems will be built by MDL in collaboration with TKMS under a technology and design transfer protocol.

NTRL

Project 75(I) contract structure

The contract includes a commercial contract between the Ministry of Defence, MDL, TKMS, and a government-to-government arrangement.

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NTRL

Delivery schedule and indigenisation

The first Project 75(I) submarine is scheduled for delivery seven years after contract-signing with subsequent submarines yearly.

DAT-N

Initial indigenisation content P75(I)

Initial indigenous content for Project 75(I) is 45 percent.

DAT-N

Target indigenisation content P75(I)

Indigenisation is expected to rise to 60 percent by the sixth Project 75(I) submarine.

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NTRL

Future submarine acquisition phases

The second phase, Project 76, will involve building at least six more conventional submarines with Indian design and high indigenisation.

DAT-N

Overall long-term plan

Close to two dozen submarines are to be built over the next two decades.

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SUP

Project 76 advantage to TKMS-MDL

The TKMS-MDL partnership currently enjoys an advantage for Project 76.

JUST

Foundation for Project 76

Technology, industrial ecosystem, and design expertise from Project 75(I) are expected to form the foundation for Project 76.

INSG

Submarine building ecosystem creation

The Project 75(I) programme is expected to create a submarine-building ecosystem involving major private companies, MSMEs, and smaller suppliers.

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OPP

Additional Scorpene submarines proposal

The Indian Navy had earlier proposed acquiring three additional Scorpene-class submarines as a stop-gap measure.

JUST

Reason for Scorpene proposal

The proposal was made given the delay in Project 75(I).

EVI-O

Past Scorpene proposal delays

The Scorpene proposal ran into delays over price negotiations and lost momentum as Project 75(I) gathered pace.

NTRL

Scorpene proposal under consideration

Despite past delays, the proposal for additional Scorpenes remains formally under consideration.

EVI-O

Long-term maintenance concerns Scorpene

Many critical spare parts for the existing Scorpene fleet continue to be sourced from France.

CMPR

Indigenous Content: Project 75(I) vs Scorpene

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	—

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JUST

French push for follow-on Scorpene

The French government and Naval Group continued to push for a follow-on Scorpene programme.

JUST

Supply chain sustainability argument

A fleet of nine boats, rather than six, would make the supply chain more sustainable and cost-effective.

DAT-O

Proposed Scorpene indigenous content

The additional three Scorpenes were supposed to come with 60 percent indigenous content.

CMPR

Proposed vs Existing Scorpene Capabilities

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

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DAT-O

MDL's Scorpene bid details

MDL submitted a bid on August 11, 2023, for three additional Scorpene-class submarines under a repeat order of Project 75.

DAT-O

Initial bid cost Scorpene

MDL initially submitted a bid exceeding Rs 50,000 crore for the three additional submarines.

DAT-O

Negotiated bid cost Scorpene

Following negotiations, the cost was eventually brought down to around Rs 36,000 crore.

DAT-O

Former Navy chief's projection

Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said in December 2024 that the deal would be signed by January 2025.

JUST

Scorpene proposal not approved

The Scorpene proposal never went through because Project 75(I) had cleared critical stages.

DCSN

Indian Navy preferred German boats

A high-level meeting concluded with the Indian Navy favoring pursuing the new German boats with AIP first.