{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceType":"text","contentType":"Editorial","apex":{"id":"n1","type":"APEX","label":"India plans 9 new conventional submarines","text":"India plans to acquire nine new conventional diesel-electric submarines, instead of six, in the first phase of ramping up underwater capabilities.","children":[{"id":"n2","type":"NTRL","label":"First phase submarine acquisition plan","text":"The government decided that six submarines under Project 75(I) will be followed by an order for three additional ones.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n3","type":"DAT-N","label":"Total acquisition phase one","text":"The total planned acquisition under the first phase will be nine submarines.","parentId":"n2","children":[]},{"id":"n4","type":"DAT-N","label":"Additional 3 submarine make","text":"The make of the three additional submarines is yet to be decided.","parentId":"n2","children":[]}]},{"id":"n5","type":"SUP","label":"Rationale for increased submarine acquisition","text":"India seeks to address a shrinking conventional submarine fleet and counter naval expansion by China and Pakistan.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n6","type":"EVI-S","label":"China and Pakistan naval expansion","text":"India faces rapid naval expansion by China and Pakistan.","parentId":"n5","children":[{"id":"n7","type":"DAT-S","label":"China's submarine fleet size","text":"China currently operates an estimated 65 submarines.","parentId":"n6","children":[]},{"id":"n8","type":"DAT-S","label":"China's submarine building program","text":"China has outpaced even the US’ submarine-building programme.","parentId":"n6","children":[]},{"id":"n9","type":"DAT-S","label":"Pakistan's planned submarine induction","text":"Pakistan is expected to induct eight Chinese-origin Hangor-class submarines over the next few years.","parentId":"n6","children":[]}]},{"id":"n10","type":"EVI-S","label":"Decommissioning of Indian Navy submarines","text":"Several of the 19 submarines in operation with the Indian Navy will be decommissioned from the late 2030s onwards.","parentId":"n5","children":[]},{"id":"n11","type":"INSG","label":"Concern over future force levels","text":"The logic for acquiring three additional submarines under Phase 1 stems from concerns over future force levels of the submarine arm.","parentId":"n5","children":[]},{"id":"n12","type":"JUST","label":"Six submarines alone insufficient","text":"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.","parentId":"n5","children":[]}]},{"id":"n13","type":"NTRL","label":"Project 75(I) contract finalization","text":"Contract modalities for Project 75(I) are being finalised and are expected to be inked later this year.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n14","type":"NTRL","label":"Project 75(I) collaboration details","text":"Six conventional submarines with AIP systems will be built by MDL in collaboration with TKMS under a technology and design transfer protocol.","parentId":"n13","children":[]},{"id":"n15","type":"NTRL","label":"Project 75(I) contract structure","text":"The contract includes a commercial contract between the Ministry of Defence, MDL, TKMS, and a government-to-government arrangement.","parentId":"n13","children":[]},{"id":"n16","type":"NTRL","label":"Delivery schedule and indigenisation","text":"The first Project 75(I) submarine is scheduled for delivery seven years after contract-signing with subsequent submarines yearly.","parentId":"n13","children":[{"id":"n17","type":"DAT-N","label":"Initial indigenisation content P75(I)","text":"Initial indigenous content for Project 75(I) is 45 percent.","parentId":"n16","children":[]},{"id":"n18","type":"DAT-N","label":"Target indigenisation content P75(I)","text":"Indigenisation is expected to rise to 60 percent by the sixth Project 75(I) submarine.","parentId":"n16","children":[]}]}]},{"id":"n19","type":"NTRL","label":"Future submarine acquisition phases","text":"The second phase, Project 76, will involve building at least six more conventional submarines with Indian design and high indigenisation.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n20","type":"DAT-N","label":"Overall long-term plan","text":"Close to two dozen submarines are to be built over the next two decades.","parentId":"n19","children":[]},{"id":"n21","type":"SUP","label":"Project 76 advantage to TKMS-MDL","text":"The TKMS-MDL partnership currently enjoys an advantage for Project 76.","parentId":"n19","children":[{"id":"n22","type":"JUST","label":"Foundation for Project 76","text":"Technology, industrial ecosystem, and design expertise from Project 75(I) are expected to form the foundation for Project 76.","parentId":"n21","children":[]},{"id":"n23","type":"INSG","label":"Submarine building ecosystem creation","text":"The Project 75(I) programme is expected to create a submarine-building ecosystem involving major private companies, MSMEs, and smaller suppliers.","parentId":"n21","children":[]}]}]},{"id":"n24","type":"OPP","label":"Additional Scorpene submarines proposal","text":"The Indian Navy had earlier proposed acquiring three additional Scorpene-class submarines as a stop-gap measure.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n25","type":"JUST","label":"Reason for Scorpene proposal","text":"The proposal was made given the delay in Project 75(I).","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n26","type":"EVI-O","label":"Past Scorpene proposal delays","text":"The Scorpene proposal ran into delays over price negotiations and lost momentum as Project 75(I) gathered pace.","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n27","type":"NTRL","label":"Scorpene proposal under consideration","text":"Despite past delays, the proposal for additional Scorpenes remains formally under consideration.","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n28","type":"EVI-O","label":"Long-term maintenance concerns Scorpene","text":"Many critical spare parts for the existing Scorpene fleet continue to be sourced from France.","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n29","type":"CMPR","label":"Indigenous Content: Project 75(I) vs Scorpene","text":"Project 75(I) aims for significantly higher indigenous content than the existing Scorpene program, excluding labor and infrastructure costs.","table":{"cols":["Program","Initial Indigenous Content","Expected Indigenous Content (later submarines)"],"rows":[{"label":"Project 75(I)","cells":["45 percent","60 percent (by sixth submarine)"]},{"label":"Scorpene (existing)","cells":["Less than 20 percent","—"]}]},"parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n30","type":"JUST","label":"French push for follow-on Scorpene","text":"The French government and Naval Group continued to push for a follow-on Scorpene programme.","parentId":"n24","children":[{"id":"n31","type":"JUST","label":"Supply chain sustainability argument","text":"A fleet of nine boats, rather than six, would make the supply chain more sustainable and cost-effective.","parentId":"n30","children":[]},{"id":"n32","type":"DAT-O","label":"Proposed Scorpene indigenous content","text":"The additional three Scorpenes were supposed to come with 60 percent indigenous content.","parentId":"n30","children":[]},{"id":"n33","type":"CMPR","label":"Proposed vs Existing Scorpene Capabilities","text":"Proposed Scorpene submarines would be larger, more capable, and offer enhanced endurance and weapon load compared to the existing fleet.","table":{"cols":["Feature","Existing Scorpene Fleet","Proposed Scorpene Submarines"],"rows":[{"label":"Size and Capability","cells":["Standard","Larger and more capable"]},{"label":"Mission Endurance","cells":["Standard","Nearly double"]},{"label":"Weapon Load","cells":["Standard","More than twice"]},{"label":"Growth Margins","cells":["—","Retain for future weapon integration"]}]},"parentId":"n30","children":[]}]},{"id":"n34","type":"DAT-O","label":"MDL's Scorpene bid details","text":"MDL submitted a bid on August 11, 2023, for three additional Scorpene-class submarines under a repeat order of Project 75.","parentId":"n24","children":[{"id":"n35","type":"DAT-O","label":"Initial bid cost Scorpene","text":"MDL initially submitted a bid exceeding Rs 50,000 crore for the three additional submarines.","parentId":"n34","children":[]},{"id":"n36","type":"DAT-O","label":"Negotiated bid cost Scorpene","text":"Following negotiations, the cost was eventually brought down to around Rs 36,000 crore.","parentId":"n34","children":[]}]},{"id":"n37","type":"DAT-O","label":"Former Navy chief's projection","text":"Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said in December 2024 that the deal would be signed by January 2025.","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n38","type":"JUST","label":"Scorpene proposal not approved","text":"The Scorpene proposal never went through because Project 75(I) had cleared critical stages.","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n39","type":"DCSN","label":"Indian Navy preferred German boats","text":"A high-level meeting concluded with the Indian Navy favoring pursuing the new German boats with AIP first.","parentId":"n24","children":[]}]}]},"slug":"india-plans-9-new-conventional-submarine-8c9653","sharedAt":{"_seconds":1780804517,"_nanoseconds":941000000},"title":"India plans 9 new conventional submarines"}