The Indian Navy has issued a request for proposal to purchase submarine mine-laying equipment (SMILE) in an effort to enhance the capabilities of its conventional submarine fleet.

SMILE is expected to be capable of laying 24 ground mines with a maximum endurance capacity to withstand the underwater speeds of the submarine, according to ptinews.com.

The design of SMILE would feature components and sub-systems including two independent magazines capable of incorporating at least 12 mines each.

Currently, the Indian Navy operates a total of 16 conventional submarines and will shortly induct the Scorpene submarines being built by Mazgaon Docks.

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