Project-76

Context

While India continues to buy advanced submarines under Project-75I, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has started a preliminary study for Project-76. This project aims to develop a new type of submarine that relies heavily on Indian-made technology and equipment.

About Project-76

Project-76 focuses on building a conventional submarine with many parts and systems made in India. This includes weapons, missiles, communication systems, and more.
The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and boost India's ability to make its own submarines.
Strategic Importance: The Indian Navy has a 30-year plan to build submarines, showing its commitment to strengthening its maritime defenses. After Project-75I, the Navy plans to shift towards making submarines within India.

Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module

DRDO has made significant strides in naval technology with its development of an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module. This module is designed to enhance the operational capabilities of conventional submarines, particularly by allowing them to stay submerged for longer durations without needing to surface.
Technical Details:
- Fuel Cell Technology: The AIP module developed by DRDO utilizes phosphoric acid-based fuel cells, which are known for their reliability and wide availability.
- Power Output: Each fuel cell in the AIP module currently generates 13.5 kW of power, with plans to scale up to 20 kW to meet future submarine requirements, including those under Project-76 (P-76).
- Configuration: The module comprises a stack of 24 fuel cells, designed to exceed operational requirements to ensure redundancy and optimize performance under various conditions.
- Integration and Future Plans: The first integration of DRDO's AIP module is slated for the Scorpene-class submarine Kalvari during its refit scheduled for 2025. This integration process, expected to span 2-3 years, will involve rigorous testing to ensure the module's reliability and effectiveness under simulated and actual maritime conditions.

What is Project-75 (India)?

Project-75 (India), also known as P-75(I), is a military acquisition initiative by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Aim: to procure diesel-electric attack submarines with fuel cells and Air-Independent Propulsion System (AIP) for the Indian Navy.
Project 75I is a follow-up to Project 75

Difference between Project 75 and Project 75I

Project 75 is aimed at building six conventional Scorpene class submarines indigenously.
- Kalvari-Class Submarine (2017)
- Khanderi (2019)
- INS Karanj (2021)
- INS Vela (2021)
- INS Vagir (2023)
- INS Vagsheer (not commissioned yet)
Project 75i is aimed at building submarines that would be larger than the Project 75 submarines along with the Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system.