Even as the Indian Navy is tossing between two of its critical submarine programmes, three additional Kalveri (Scorpene) submarines and Project-75 India (P-75I) for six advanced submarines, the issue of the Make in India component is being discussed in the corridors of South Block.
India is in critical need to enhance the navy’s underwater capabilities as Pakistan is building its underwater prowess massively with the help of China. The PLA Navy is the world’s largest and most rapidly expanding navy. Its submarine fleet is projected to reach 65 this year and 80 by 2035.
Early this week, during Philippines president Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in maritime security, including through collaborative efforts for enhanced maritime domain awareness (MDA), cooperation in ship-building, maritime connectivity and coastal surveillance.
It is learnt that the Philippines has expressed interest in Indian-built submarines. For that, the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) will play a significant role as it has just delivered six Kalveri (Scorpene)-class submarines in partnership with France’s Naval Group.
In July 2023, India and France had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to fabricate submarine and surface combatants and parts in Mumbai and Kolkata, respectively, for export. It was announced that the move will boost the Make in India initiative since MDL will jointly develop and manufacture Scorpene-class submarines with the Naval Group for a third country.
While the contract for three additional Kalveri-class submarines is awaiting the Union Cabinet’s approval, as announced a year ago, P-75I is at the cost-negotiation stage, even though the shipbuilder has not yet been called for it. Modi announced the contract for manufacturing three additional Scorpene submarines during his visit to France in July 2023. Progress of the project has been followed up by French president Emmanuel Macron and Modi during state visits in India and France in January 2024 and February 2025.
While explaining the timelines of both submarine projects, a defence official said that three additional Scorpene submarines will be delivered in six years from signing of the contract, while in the case of P-75I, it will take at least 10 years to deliver the first boat, factoring in the tedious procurement process in India.
Defence sources claim the additional submarines will have 60 per cent indigenous content compared to the previously delivered six Kalveri submarines, where all six boats had close to 30 per cent indigenous content on an average. Moreover, the new additional Scorpene submarines will be slightly bigger than the earlier version of the boat and have improved performances, including significant involvement of Indian industry and possibilities of integration of technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), including torpedoes.
For the Scorpene (Kalveri) submarines under Project 75, the Make in India components include main batteries, gas analysers, intercoms, AC and RO plants, and hull fabrication—with INS Vagsheer, the most recent boat to be commissioned, achieving 40 per cent indigenisation. Moreover, it will have the DRDO Naval Materials Research Laboratory’s fuel cell-based AIP (air independent propulsion) system, which is being developed. Besides, the combat management system and missile package area are also planned as Made in India.
On the other hand, P-75I (whose project cost has shot up from Rs 43,000 crore to Rs 70,000 crore) will have local content of about 45 per cent in the first boat, going up to 60 per cent in the last (sixth) boat. These six advanced conventional submarines will have the latest sensors and weapons and AIP. Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), which is being shortlisted for the project in partnership with MDL, cleared the technical evaluation conducted by the ministry of defence, and will bring its own proven AIP into the boat.
Another factor bothering Indian naval planners is the weapons package in the German boat. So far, existing German HDW (Shishumar-class) submarines have the US’s Harpoon missiles, and it is likely that the new submarines to be built under P-75I will also carry Harpoon missiles. However, the Indian Navy has not finalised the weapons package with the submarine-maker yet. Considering US president Donald Trump’s unpredictability, India’s advanced submarine programme resting some dependency on a US missile platform could cause problems at a later stage.
On the other hand, the DRDO is at an advanced stage of developing its 500-km-range Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM). This missile is expected to be fitted on Indian submarines. “Uniformity in its inventory is always good for any navy. From weapons package to propulsion system, the Indian Navy should be trying to get a common platform as much as possible,” said a defence source. Moreover, the DRDO-developed AIP gives India an edge when it comes to exporting submarines as this will not require consent from any third country.
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