DRDO’s Scalable Fuel‑Cell AIP To Anchor Next‑Gen Indian Submarines
India is advancing towards true underwater endurance autonomy with the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) finalising a scalable
phosphoric acid fuel‑cell Air‑Independent Propulsion (AIP) system for its
upcoming Project‑76 conventional submarines.
Conceived as a high‑efficiency, modular upgrade to the existing AIP intended
for Kalvari‑class boats, the system represents a decisive step in India’s
quest for long‑duration stealth operations and indigenous clean‑energy
maritime technology.
Developed by DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) under the
Ministry of Defence, the phosphoric acid fuel‑cell technology utilises
hydrogen reformed onboard from sodium borohydride and stored liquid oxygen to
generate electrical power without combustion.
This allows the submarine to operate submerged for over two weeks without
surfacing to charge its batteries, reducing acoustic and infrared signatures
and increasing tactical survivability in contested littoral environments.
While the first installation will take place as a retrofit during the mid‑life
upgrade of the INS Kalvari, the system’s design philosophy is deliberately
modular.
The scalable AIP architecture allows power cell clusters to be added or
replaced depending on submarine displacement and mission profile, ensuring
compatibility not only with the 1,800‑ton Scorpène class but also with larger,
3,000 to 4,000‑ton Project‑76 boats that will follow.
The AIP will work in hybrid tandem with advanced lithium‑ion (Li‑ion) battery
banks being developed in parallel by the Indian Navy and industry partners.
Li‑ion cells, providing rapid charge‑discharge cycles and higher energy
density than lead‑acid units, will handle peak power loads such as high‑speed
manoeuvres. In contrast, the fuel‑cell AIP will handle steady‑state cruising,
maintaining a low acoustic footprint essential for modern anti‑submarine
evasion.
Future Project‑76 submarines—expected to be built indigenously by Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) under a strategic
partnership model—will integrate this hybrid endurance system from inception.
The design aims to match or surpass the submerged endurance of advanced
regional platforms such as Japan’s Taigei‑class and South Korea’s KSS‑III,
both equipped with fuel‑cell or Li‑ion solutions.
DRDO’s scalable AIP effort aligns closely with national initiatives promoting
self‑reliance in strategic technologies under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”
framework. The program also widens India’s future technological base for
clean‑energy propulsion, providing a platform for eventual transfer of
know‑how to civil maritime or underwater autonomous vehicle sectors.
By achieving a field‑deployable, modular AIP proven on operational submarines,
India will possess one of the few flexible submarine endurance platforms
outside Europe and East Asia.
This capability will allow Indian Navy attack submarines to patrol critical
chokepoints and extended Indian Ocean sectors for weeks—silent,
self‑sustaining, and strategically unpredictable.
Technical specifications and lifecycle integration details for the proposed Project‑76-class Submarines
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Project-76 (P-76) |
| Number of Submarines | 12 (planned) |
| Submarine Type | Conventional diesel-electric attack submarines |
| Submerged Displacement | Around 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes |
| Propulsion System | Indigenous phosphoric acid fuel-cell Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) combined with lithium-ion batteries |
| AIP Details | Modular design scalable for different submarine sizes; uses hydrogen reformed onboard from sodium borohydride and liquid oxygen |
| Endurance | Weeks-long submerged endurance without surfacing |
| Stealth Features | Low acoustic and infrared signatures due to AIP and hybrid battery system |
| Primary Builders | Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) |
| Indigenous Content Target | Approximately 80% indigenous materials |
| Design Timeline | Design finalisation expected by 2026-2028 |
| Prototype Launch | Expected by 2030 |
| Combat Systems | Indigenous weapon control system; armed with torpedo tube-launched cruise missiles |
| Strategic Role | Maintain robust conventional underwater fleet with enhanced endurance and stealth for Indian Ocean Region dominance |
| Technological Influence | Incorporates lessons from Project-75 (Kalvari-class) and nuclear submarine Project-77 programs |
| Collaborative Design | Design led by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau with private sector involvement (L&T) |
| Future Capability | Enhanced underwater endurance and stealth, making Indian Navy one of the few with flexible modular AIP conventional submarines |
IDN (With Agency Inputs)
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