India’s Evolving Submarine Roadmap: From Project-751 To Project-76
Project-76, Project-75I, and Project-751 represent successive evolutionary
steps in India’s submarine acquisition and indigenous design roadmap,
reflecting escalating ambitions in underwater endurance, stealth, and
operational autonomy. Each project pivots on key factors such as propulsion
technology, level of indigenisation, and strategic roles.
Project-76: Indigenous Next-Generation Submarines
Project-76 marks a critical leap for Indian submarine self-reliance, setting
out to deliver 12 AIP-equipped diesel-electric attack submarines designed
entirely by the Warship Design Bureau and DRDO—aiming for up to 80% indigenous
content. Each is expected to have a submerged displacement of roughly
3,000–4,000 tons, lithium-ion batteries, and an indigenous weapon control
system—significantly outclassing earlier generations in underwater endurance
and stealth.
The objective is to start prototype construction by 2028 and
ensure India’s submarine-building pipeline through the 2040s, lessening
reliance on foreign OEMs and integrating best-of-breed technologies from
earlier Franco-German-Indian collaborations. Project-76 is envisioned as the
successor for Kilo-class (Sindhughosh) boats, making a generational jump in
home-grown capability.
Project-75I: Advanced Foreign-Partnered AIP Submarines
Project-75I is the present procurement focus, targeting six conventionally
powered, AIP-equipped submarines incorporating German Type 214 technology—and
building upon India’s experience with the Scorpene-class under Project-75.
With advanced AIP modules, these submarines will offer underwater endurance of
nearly three weeks—far exceeding the two days typical of battery-powered subs.
The deal, at approximately ₹70,000 crore, calls for significant
transfer-of-technology, at least 60% indigenisation in later hulls, and is a
major step in India’s Make in India push for critical underwater platforms.
The primary strategic improvement over Project-75 is the much longer submerged
endurance and stealth profile, boosted by advanced German engineering and
modular design for future upgrades.
Project-751: The Kalvari/Scorpene Baseline
Project-751 (typically referred to as Project-75), executed from the 2000s
onwards, delivered six French Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines with
modern sensor suites, improved stealth, guided torpedoes, and anti-ship
missile capability—but no AIP module installed in initial hulls. These
submarines require surfacing roughly every 48 hours for battery recharging,
limiting their endurance relative to successors. Built under technology
transfer from Naval Group (France) at MDL, Project-751 laid the foundation for
indigenous submarine assembly, but the design and many key technologies remain
foreign. It provided invaluable baseline know-how for subsequent projects but
is now considered strategically outclassed by modern Chinese and Pakistani
fleets.
Strategic Differences And Evolution
Project-76 aims for maximum indigenisation and future-proofing through modular
designs influenced by both French and German expertise, targeting not just
technical parity but indigenous submarine autonomy by mid-century.
Project-75I, while more advanced than Project-751, is still heavily reliant on
imported technology, but is a critical bridge for operational needs over the
next decade and includes significant design-transfer elements. Project-751
formed the initial industrial backbone and experience base, but is now
technologically dated and less capable in endurance and detection evasion.
| Feature / Aspect | Project-75 | Project-75I | Project-76 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Build six Scorpene-class conventional diesel-electric submarines with technology transfer from France (Naval Group). | Build six advanced conventional submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) and foreign design support under the Strategic Partnership model. | Build 12 fully indigenous diesel-electric submarines with AIP, advanced stealth, and weapon systems developed domestically. |
| Indigenous Content | Moderate (~40-50%) via technology transfer for construction in India. | Higher indigenous content (45%-60%) focusing on newer tech and local manufacturing. | Very high indigenous content (~90-95%) with domestic design, weapon control, and lithium-ion battery integration. |
| Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) | Not equipped (traditional diesel-electric). | Equipped with AIP fuel-cell systems that enable about two weeks submerged endurance. | Equipped with indigenous AIP system from DRDO for enhanced endurance and stealth. |
| Displacement | Approx. 1,500-1,700 tons (Scorpene-class). | Larger than Project-75 subs, ~3,000 tons. | Approximately 3,000 tons submerged displacement, next-gen capabilities. |
| Manufacturing | Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) with French collaboration. | Indian shipyards with foreign OEM design support (Germany's ThyssenKrupp or Spain’s Navantia). | Larsen & Toubro (L&T) leading indigenous design and build with DRDO collaboration. |
| Operational Timeline | First delivery by mid-2020s, operational by late 2020s to mid-2030s. | Expected delivery between late 2020s and mid-2030s (delayed). | Design completion by 2027, construction start ~2030, commissioning by 2037. |
| Key Features | Stealth technologies and modern torpedoes/missiles but no AIP. | Advanced sensors, stealth, cruise missile capability, AIP, and ISR systems. | Indigenous weapon control system, lithium-ion batteries, cruise missile strike capability, and strong stealth. |
| Strategic Significance | Foundation of modern Indian conventional submarine force. | Next stage in capability with modern tech and higher self-reliance. | Leap towards full indigenous underwater naval capability with emphasis on strategic autonomy and export potential. |
Project-75 introduced Scorpene submarines with moderate indigenous content and no AIP.
Project-75I improves on Project-75 by adding AIP and modern combat systems with foreign design support but higher indigenous manufacture.
Project-76 is the most ambitious, aiming for near-complete indigenous design and build with the latest technologies and advanced weapon systems, representing a major step toward India’s strategic and industrial self-reliance in submarine capabilities
Capability Table
| Parameter | Project-76 | Project-75I (India) | Project-751 (P-75) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenisation | Up to 80% | 45–60% | ~30–45% |
| Number Planned | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric + AIP | Diesel-electric + AIP | Diesel-electric only |
| Endurance Submerged | 2–3 weeks | 3 weeks | 48 h (2 days) |
| Technology Source | Indigenous (DRDO, WDB, Modular) | German (Type 214) + Indian Build | French Scorpene + Indian Build |
| Weapons/Sensors | Indigenous, advanced suite | Modern, foreign, upgradeable | Modern, foreign suite |
| Strategic Role | Successor to Kilo, fleet core | Fleet enhancement, deterrence | Baseline capability builder |
IDN (With Agency Inputs)
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