Work under India’s project 75 indigenous submarine construction programme is currently underway at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai, India.
Approximately six submarines are being built as part of a $4.3bn deal with French naval defence firm DCNS, as part of the Indian Navy’s plans to induct more than 12 submarines to bolster its depleted fleet.
The navy is set to launch its first submarine in September 2015, with three of the overall six submarines currently in their outfitting phase. The systems of the first one are in the ‘set to work’ phase.
As part of efforts to commission these submarines, the navy has also started training the selected crew
The vessels will be based at Mumbai, before being transferred to their operational base at Karwar following the completion of sea trials.
According to reports, future submarines will be integrated with air independent propulsion (AIP) systems for improved endurance capabilities, in addition to the indigenous torpedoes and missiles installed on the Scorpene-class submarines.
In June, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a $2.25bn tender to domestic shipyards for the construction of 16 shallow-water anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels, in a bid to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes, which were custom-built in 1989 and 1991.
Recently, the navy commissioned its first domestically built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette, INS Kamorta, which integrates a native rocket launcher for anti-submarine warfare.
Furthermore, the navy is also planning to build a new major sea base on India’s eastern coast at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, which would be the home base for the first domestic aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, and the warship fleet under the Eastern Naval Command.
Image: India’s defence minister Arun Jaitley at Mazagon Dockyard reviewing the progress of the project 75 indigenous submarine construction programme. Photo: courtesy of the Indian Navy.
