Project-76 Indigenous Diesel-electric Submarine (SSK) Program

[randomradio]

This thread is dedicated to the indigenous SSK class P76.

DRDO indigenous submarine proposal to go for CCS approval in couple of months; eight years for first sub​

With the deal to buy six new diesel-electric submarines entering the contract negotiation phase, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is gearing up to bring a proposal to design and develop an indigenous conventional submarine to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval.

The procurement deal comes under Project-75I, while the indigenous development proposal comes under Project-76.

“The inter-ministerial consultation is going on and it should be ready for CCS approval in the next two months,” said an official who did not wish to be named. “Once approved, the design phase is expected to take two to three years, and another five years for construction. So it is expected to take around eight years to have the first submarine, once the project is sanctioned,” the source said.

The indigenous submarine is expected to displace around 3,000 tonnes and will be capable of launching land attack cruise missiles (LACMs), which are still under development, from its torpedo tubes. A new LACM being developed by DRDO fits this criteria, sources stated.

Over 90% indigenous content
As reported by The Hindu last June, DRDO carried out a preliminary study to determine the contours of P-76, after a go-ahead from the Defence Ministry. P-76 will be a continuation of the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, under which the Arihant series of nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) are being built, with another project underway to build nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN).

The project is aiming for 90% to 95% indigenous content, with major systems being sourced domestically including the weapons, missiles, combat management system, sonars, communications, electronic warfare suite, mast, and periscope. Only some chips, electronics, and tubes will have to be imported, sources said, adding that the indigenous SSBNs also have over 90% indigenous content.

Parallel development
Meanwhile, the P-75I tender for six conventional submarines is set to begin contract negotiations after long delays, with the bid by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in partnership with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) of Germany have cleared the technical evaluation. The deal is estimated to be worth around ₹70,000 crore, way above the earlier benchmark of ₹43,000 crore. The final contract is expected to take at least a couple of years given the tough negotiations, and the first submarine will be delivered seven years later. This means that the P-75I and P-76 programmes will progress almost in parallel, if the development of the latter goes as per plan.

As reported earlier, the indigenous SSN programme is also in the design phase, which is expected to take four to five years, with another five years estimated for the construction and validation of the first submarine. From the proof of concept to the final construction plan, there are four stages of development, another source said.

Long timeframes
In December, Navy Chief Adm Tripathi said that a realistic timeframe would probably see the first SSN inducted in 2036-37, followed by the second one a couple of years later. Last October, the CCS approved the indigenous construction of two SSNs estimated to cost around ₹35,000 crore, while India’s fourth SSBN was launched into the water at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.

The SSNs are a critical requirement for the Navy to keep a watch over the Indo-Pacific region as they provide unlimited endurance to perform a variety of tasks; their endurance is only limited by that of the crew.

The Indian Navy currently has 17 conventional submarines in service, but the majority of them are ageing platforms. This includes seven Russian Kilo class submarines, four German HDW submarines, and six French Scorpene submarines. A contract for three additional Scorpene-class submarines is set to be signed very soon, with the first of the them likely to be delivered in 2030.

DRDO indigenous submarine proposal to go for CCS approval in couple of months; eight years for first sub

DRDO prepares to propose indigenous submarine design to CCS as part of Project-76, alongside Project-75I procurement deal.

www.thehindu.com

Five years to build both SSK and SSN. Come on, who are they fooling?

Good news for starting it up though. Been claiming for many years that the design phase of P-76 will start as soon as we get P-75I done.

 

[Chain Smoker]

Five years to build both SSK and SSN. Come on, who are they fooling?

Good news for starting it up though. Been claiming for many years that the design phase of P-76 will start as soon as we get P-75I done.

Indigenous program are always kept hostage for gold plated imports, nothing new.

Meanwhile p75i now costs 70,000 crore.

 

[Hydra]

Indigenous program are always kept hostage for gold plated imports, nothing new.

Meanwhile p75i now costs 70,000 crore.

Paying for technology.

 

[Speedster1]

This thread is dedicated to the indigenous SSK class P76.

DRDO indigenous submarine proposal to go for CCS approval in couple of months; eight years for first sub​

With the deal to buy six new diesel-electric submarines entering the contract negotiation phase, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is gearing up to bring a proposal to design and develop an indigenous conventional submarine to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval.

The procurement deal comes under Project-75I, while the indigenous development proposal comes under Project-76.

“The inter-ministerial consultation is going on and it should be ready for CCS approval in the next two months,” said an official who did not wish to be named. “Once approved, the design phase is expected to take two to three years, and another five years for construction. So it is expected to take around eight years to have the first submarine, once the project is sanctioned,” the source said.

The indigenous submarine is expected to displace around 3,000 tonnes and will be capable of launching land attack cruise missiles (LACMs), which are still under development, from its torpedo tubes. A new LACM being developed by DRDO fits this criteria, sources stated.

Over 90% indigenous content
As reported by The Hindu last June, DRDO carried out a preliminary study to determine the contours of P-76, after a go-ahead from the Defence Ministry. P-76 will be a continuation of the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, under which the Arihant series of nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) are being built, with another project underway to build nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN).

The project is aiming for 90% to 95% indigenous content, with major systems being sourced domestically including the weapons, missiles, combat management system, sonars, communications, electronic warfare suite, mast, and periscope. Only some chips, electronics, and tubes will have to be imported, sources said, adding that the indigenous SSBNs also have over 90% indigenous content.

Parallel development
Meanwhile, the P-75I tender for six conventional submarines is set to begin contract negotiations after long delays, with the bid by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in partnership with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) of Germany have cleared the technical evaluation. The deal is estimated to be worth around ₹70,000 crore, way above the earlier benchmark of ₹43,000 crore. The final contract is expected to take at least a couple of years given the tough negotiations, and the first submarine will be delivered seven years later. This means that the P-75I and P-76 programmes will progress almost in parallel, if the development of the latter goes as per plan.

As reported earlier, the indigenous SSN programme is also in the design phase, which is expected to take four to five years, with another five years estimated for the construction and validation of the first submarine. From the proof of concept to the final construction plan, there are four stages of development, another source said.

Long timeframes
In December, Navy Chief Adm Tripathi said that a realistic timeframe would probably see the first SSN inducted in 2036-37, followed by the second one a couple of years later. Last October, the CCS approved the indigenous construction of two SSNs estimated to cost around ₹35,000 crore, while India’s fourth SSBN was launched into the water at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.

The SSNs are a critical requirement for the Navy to keep a watch over the Indo-Pacific region as they provide unlimited endurance to perform a variety of tasks; their endurance is only limited by that of the crew.

The Indian Navy currently has 17 conventional submarines in service, but the majority of them are ageing platforms. This includes seven Russian Kilo class submarines, four German HDW submarines, and six French Scorpene submarines. A contract for three additional Scorpene-class submarines is set to be signed very soon, with the first of the them likely to be delivered in 2030.

DRDO indigenous submarine proposal to go for CCS approval in couple of months; eight years for first sub

DRDO prepares to propose indigenous submarine design to CCS as part of Project-76, alongside Project-75I procurement deal.

www.thehindu.com

So if all goes to plan, the 2030s should see three parallel assembly lines churning out Kalvari B2, Type-214I and P-76 in India! If DRDO is approaching the CCS for approval, their design must have finally met the IN's expectations. You may recall that the IN had rejected DRDO SSK proposals at least once in the past.

But this makes P-75I prog seem all the more unnecessary. There's simply no justification for a country that builds nuke subs to be on the market for new SSK, especially when there are none that would fully meet our requirements out of the box. The Admirals are in need of a reality check.

 

[randomradio]

Indigenous program are always kept hostage for gold plated imports, nothing new.

Meanwhile p75i now costs 70,000 crore.

No, requirements were meant to be created after we learned of foreign long term roadmaps. So now the indigenous sub will be designed with that knowledge. That's what we did with AMCA too, the IAF learned a lot from MMRCA and FGFA.

 

[marich01]

When Will India's Indigenous Submarine Design Be Ready? | The News9 Plus Show​

 

[Ankit Kumar]

https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/nudging-indigenization-competition-in-indias-aip-submarine-program/

MDL also creating an in-house design for Project 76 to compete with DRDO

 

[liberalredditor]

https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/nudging-indigenization-competition-in-indias-aip-submarine-program/

MDL also creating an in-house design for Project 76 to compete with DRDO

Why do the psu, drdo and wdb want to create khichdi? The workforce would be divided and would delay everything. Rather come together and design it in the given time. Why to compete? Just use your combined workforce and talent and churn out a good ssk. Pure foolishness from who ever decided to bring a triangular competition in this p76

 

[Subgradewalker]

Why do the psu, drdo and wdb want to create khichdi? The workforce would be divided and would delay everything. Rather come together and design it in the given time. Why to compete? Just use your combined workforce and talent and churn out a good ssk. Pure foolishness from who ever decided to bring a triangular competition in this p76

Contrary to the belief that it will divide the workforce, it will multiply it. While PSU,drdo, MDL are state owned, they are seperate entities and hence seperate books ( profits, earnings etc).
The division would have happened in case there were only 10 workers and each needed 8 atleast. But that is not so. All have dedicated teams and can further increase it by hiring more and training. Hence multiplication of workforce.

You can't complain about HAL monopoly and ekla chalo be mindset and at same time complain that different entities are competing with each other.

Its a gamble and risk from all vyers which is a culture needed to grow a business. All three will design with own resources, not depending on special package from govt. And whoever wins can use profits for future ventures.
Rest creates a thriving knowledge ecosystem within.

Lastly, it's not as if they don't have any ties with each other. While competition results in redundancy in some areas, it brings new ideas in critical areas. And when any meeting and exchange of ideas happen in scientists circles, they can get inspired.

I do not know the veracity of claims of 3 firms vying for it.. but my case was in favor of competition regardless of which Indian firm is involved.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Why do the psu, drdo and wdb want to create khichdi? The workforce would be divided and would delay everything. Rather come together and design it in the given time. Why to compete? Just use your combined workforce and talent and churn out a good ssk. Pure foolishness from who ever decided to bring a triangular competition in this p76

Contrary to the belief that it will divide the workforce, it will multiply it. While PSU,drdo, MDL are state owned, they are seperate entities and hence seperate books ( profits, earnings etc).
The division would have happened in case there were only 10 workers and each needed 8 atleast. But that is not so. All have dedicated teams and can further increase it by hiring more and training. Hence multiplication of workforce.

You can't complain about HAL monopoly and ekla chalo be mindset and at same time complain that different entities are competing with each other.

Its a gamble and risk from all vyers which is a culture needed to grow a business. All three will design with own resources, not depending on special package from govt. And whoever wins can use profits for future ventures.
Rest creates a thriving knowledge ecosystem within.

Lastly, it's not as if they don't have any ties with each other. While competition results in redundancy in some areas, it brings new ideas in critical areas. And when any meeting and exchange of ideas happen in scientists circles, they can get inspired.

I do not know the veracity of claims of 3 firms vying for it.. but my case was in favor of competition regardless of which Indian firm is involved.

We need to do a cost benefit analysis that, can a $3000 usd per capita country have a free market for projects or not.

Like I believe that we cannot have 2 parallel engine programs in our country for now.

We need to identify similar other sectors.

While others can remain open.

 

[babablacksheep]

, can a $3000 usd per capita country

In these projects its much better to look at overall economic might, then per capita.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

In these projects its much better to look at overall economic might, then per capita.

South Korea has funded million of dollars each year for it's KFX program since 2011, unlike us who made plans for AMCA way back and released the funds last year.

That 10 year gap is due to the per capita GDP difference.

 

[Shan]

In these projects its much better to look at overall economic might, then per capita.

Agree 100 percent. Budgeting, cost cutting, and prudent fiscal management could have allowed us to do many a things in the defence sector. R&D budgeting is lackadaisical and 'chalta hai' attitude leading to emergency procurements has costed us a queen's ransom.

 

[Subgradewalker]

South Korea has funded million of dollars each year for it's KFX program since 2011, unlike us who made plans for AMCA way back and released the funds last year.

That 10 year gap is due to the per capita GDP difference.

It's more to do with corruption in previous decades and reputation leading to distrust in the capability of DRDO, HAL and other PSUs which still persist.

One main reason you are seeing a flurry of capital expenditure approval is because of success of DRDO led technology in OP Sindoor which has instilled a sense of trust from public and a sense of confidence in DRDO.
Otherwise, you would be seeing lengthy debates about hospitals over Aircrafts.

 

[babablacksheep]

That 10 year gap is due to the per capita GDP difference.

No

 

[Chain Smoker]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1946801495980089478

 

[Fatalis]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1946801495980089478

This is surprising news. I thought WDB was supposedly working with MDL for P76 class SSK.

 

[Tatvamasi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1946817232534737284

 

[Speedster1]

One thing is for certain, L&T will run circles around MDL when it comes to build time and perhaps even build quality given its association with the strategic sub prog. Recently, there was a report that P-75I will be wholly executed by MDL with no workshare for the L2. I'm glad they are not being relegated to a sub-contractor role anymore.

L&T probably expects many more orders, including commercial crude oil carriers, etc, which explains why they are expanding facilities at Kattupalli.

 

[Ashwin]

One thing is for certain, L&T will run circles around MDL when it comes to build time and perhaps even build quality given its association with the strategic sub prog. Recently, there was a report that P-75I will be wholly executed by MDL with no workshare for the L2. I'm glad they are not being relegated to a sub-contractor role anymore.

L&T probably expects many more orders, including commercial crude oil carriers, etc, which explains why they are expanding facilities at Kattupalli.

Why would MDL want to share anything with L2?

This is surprising news. I thought WDB was supposedly working with MDL for P76 class SSK.

MDL is fully dependent on the navy for design support. L&T build their expertise over the years by investing during arihant development.

MDL woke up recently and is now designing a mini submarine with internal funding. L&T has the most competent design expertise after the navy.