INDIA’S MUCH-AWAITED PROJECT-75 (INDIA) SUBMARINE DEAL: A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR THE NAVY’S SUB-SURFACE CAPABILITIES!

23^rd January 2025: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise, announces that it has been invited by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for commercial negotiations on the ambitious ₹70,000 crore Project-75 India [P-75(I)] submarine deal. The first round of commercial negotiations follows the opening of commercial bids a week before, on 16^th January 2025. MDL will partner with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the P-75(I) Project.

What is Project-75 (I)?

In the aftermath of the Kargil War, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved a 30-year Submarine Development Plan (SDP-2030), for acquisition of 24 conventional submarines. This fructified in the form of a two-phase venture, with Project-75 & Project-75(I) constituting the initial phase, each envisaging development of six Diesel-Electric Attack (DEA) submarines (SSKs).

The P-75 Kalvari-Class Scorpene Project, in collaboration with the French Naval Group, has now seen fruition, with the sixth and final submarine, INS Vagsheer, having been commissioned in an impressive and unprecedented tri-commissioning ceremony by the Hon’ble PM at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 15 January 2025 (read more about this tri-commissioning event @ https://chanakyaforum.com/destroyer-a-stealth-frigate-and-a-submarine-lethal-additions-to-indias-naval-might/ ).

The subsequent phase of submarine development is planned to be undertaken with high indigenous content and completely indigenous design, under the moniker of Project-76. This project, which will draw on the technology of the P-75 and P-75(I) projects, will involve the indigenous development of six SSKs with a 3000-4000 ton displacement, over the next two decades. DRDO, in collaboration with IN’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), and MDL are presently preparing designs for evaluation by the IN.

Since Project-75(I) could not be progressed concurrently as planned under SDP-2030 due to various reasons, the Naval Staff Qualitative Requirements for the project were modified to include procurement of SSKs with state-of-the-art Air-Independent-Propulsion (AIP) systems, enabling these submarines to stay submerged for longer durations, thus substantially increasing their operational range, in addition to increasing endurance by up to 30% and facilitating stealthy operation in close proximity to an adversary’s maritime assets. In October 2014, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) decided that all six submarines would be constructed in India, and in June 2017, it was reported that the contract for construction would be awarded under the “Strategic Partnership” Model (SPM). This referred to participation of Indian firms along with foreign manufacturers under the ‘Make in India’ paradigm of Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020. The DAC subsequently approved an enhanced budget in January 2019. Concurrently, an Empowered Project Committee (EPC) was constituted to steer the project till contract conclusion and Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project was accorded.  In January 2020, the EPC shortlisted MDL and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the two Indian firms that would collaborate with one of five shortlisted foreign manufacturers for the project. On 20 July 2021, the CCS allowed issuance of Request for Proposal (RFP) under the SPM to both these Indian firms for a total amount of ₹43,000 Crores, making this the first project under the SPM and India’s largest Defence acquisition project at the time! Subsequently, three of the five shortlisted foreign vendors exited, citing unfavourable contract clauses. Acceptance of the RFP by the balance two foreign firms saw MDL signing a pre-emptive agreement with TKMS in June 2023, while L&T signed a Teaming Agreement with Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia on 11 April 2023- both for the purpose of submitting a techno-commercial bid for the project. The L&T-Navantia proposal has now been rejected by the Government for not being compliant with the Indian Navy’s (IN) requirements, including the observation that the land-based AIP demonstrated did not meet the IN’s criteria of a sea-proven AIP. This left MDL-TKMS as the only compliant bidder. The submarine offered is likely to be a variant of the TKMS Type 214 NG DEA submarines with AIP, with an appropriate hull design. The induction of P-75 (I) submarines is expected to commence by the end of this decade. This, incidentally, marks the second time in the IN’s history that German-origin submarines have been shortlisted, following the four Shishumar Class DEA submarines that were built by MDL in collaboration with German firm Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), also part of the TKMS group, between 1986 and 1994!

The P-75(I) deal is now expected to cost Rs. 70,000 Crores (USD 8.1 Billion) and is the largest-ever Defence procurement contract by value, with an increase of Rs. 27,000 Crores over the initially pegged price- a result of technology advancement, inflation and purchasing power parity.

The MoD and the IN have now invited MDL for the first round of commercial negotiations for the project.

P-75(I) Design Profile

The RFP for the P-75(I) includes equipping the submarines with ‘contemporary equipment, weapons & sensors including Fuel-Cell AIP (FCAIP), advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state-of-the-art countermeasure systems[i].

Some of the key stipulates in the RFP include: –

• AIP, as discussed above.
• Land-attack and Anti-ship capabilities (possibly BrahMos Anti-Ship Missile/Submarine Launched Cruise Missile- based on the Nirbhay Subsonic Cruise Missile).
• Advanced SONAR and Electronic Warfare Systems.
• Low-observability features.
• Indigenous Manufacturing – with a high percentage of components to be Indian-made.
• Integration with Indian Navy’s Combat Management System (now being supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited- for multi-sensor data fusion, decision support and weapon system control/diagnostics, among other functions).

As mentioned above, the P-75(I) design is likely to emerge from an optimum merger of indigenous and foreign technologies of the P-75 submarines and the TKMS Type 214 NG and 212 CD DEA submarines.

The submarine design that TKMS will offer to India is likely to be a version of the TKMS HDW Type 214 NG (New Generation) submarine, larger and more advanced than the Kalvari Class submarines built under P-75. The Project, in addition to the systems mentioned above, will include provision of ‘associated shore support, engineering support package and training & spares package’[ii]. The Project also envisages setting up of dedicated manufacturing lines for the submarines in India by providing transfer-of-technology, thereby making India a global hub for submarine design and production.

The Type 214 submarine is a single-hull one-compartment boat that merges technologies from the TKMS HDW Class 209 compact submarine and the Class 212 A submarine, equipped with AIP and state-of-the-art sensor, communication and weapon systems payloads.

TKMS HDW Type 214 Submarine: Source-thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com

The Type 214 submarine incorporates world-leading FCAIP technology, which significantly increases underwater endurance and reduces risks of detection by allowing the submarine to stay underwater for extended periods without surfacing. This is because the FCAIP converts hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, without noise or combustion, for use by the submarine’s systems. Water for use by the submarine’s systems and crew, emerges as a by-product of this conversion. While the FCAIP developed by TKMS is a proven technology, DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory has developed a modular, scalable, Phosphoric Acid based indigenous FCAIP.  INS Kalvari, the lead-ship of the Kalvari  Class submarines, is the first submarine that will integrate a 250 KW system with this technology during midlife refit this year. This indigenous FCAIP is likely to be chosen for P-75(I) in keeping with the need for indigenous self-sufficiency in submarine technology.

The Type 214 submarine has an overall length of 72m and a surface displacement of over 2000 tons. A larger variant may be offered for the P-75(I). The submarine incorporates optimized SONAR capabilities for increased low-frequency detection ranges. It boasts a large weapon payload capacity for a mix of torpedoes, missiles and mines. It also integrates a Torpedo Countermeasures system. The submarine has a surfaced speed of 10 knots (18.5 Kmph) and a submerged speed of 20 knots (37 Kmph), with an estimated speed of 2-6 knots (3-11 Kmph) on FCAIP.  It has a maximum range of 19,300 Km and an estimated operating depth of 400m.

Due to improvements in pressure hull materials, the Type 214 submarine can sustain dives at nearly 400 metres and can carry food, fresh water and fuel for 12 weeks of operation. This includes 3 weeks submerged, without snorkel. Increased diving depths and durations due to advanced hull-design and AIP technology, along with modular weapon and sensor combinations, make the Class-214 submarine ‘predestined for all modern submarine operations and missions’[i].

The TKMS HDW Type 212 CD (Common Design) is derived from, and is larger than, the Type 212 A, the latter being the first series with FCAIP technology. The Type 212 CD is currently in service with the Norwegian and German Navies. This variant is significantly larger than the Type 212 A DEA submarine being developed by TKMS for the German and Italian Navies.

Comparison of Type 212 A and Type 212 CD Submarines:Source-navalnews.com

The “X” arrangement of the stern-planes on the Type 212 CD submarine allows it to remain submerged in as little as 17m of water. This design parameter was focused on the German Navy’s requirement to negotiate a choke point in the Baltic Sea, while submerged! However, since this arrangement also allows these submarines to negotiate shallower waters, they can approach closer to beachheads, rendering universal advantage for use as platforms by marine commandos and in support of amphibious operations.

Video Screengrab Showing “X” Arrangement of Stern-planes on Type 212 CD Submarine: Source-navalnews.com

The Type 212 CD also features FCAIP and will mount two Rolls Royce MTU 4000 diesel engines, instead of one, each with an output of 4300 KW, significantly higher than those mounted in the Kalvari  Class submarines. The Type 212 CD submarines will be equipped with the ORCCA Combat Management System, which is reported to have the ability to process large amounts of sensor data for informed battlefield decision-making and also improve interoperability with friendly forces. The submarines also mount two optronics masts for search, surveillance and attack functions, a panoramic surveillance system and an active Mine Avoidance/Navigation SONAR. The submarines feature four torpedo tubes for heavy torpedoes, although the weapon systems can be tailor-made for specific operational requirements, including anti-ship missiles and mines. The Type 212 CD submarines will also integrate Network Centric Warfare compatible communication systems and superficial lateral antennae to replace flank array SONAR, thus reducing noise, enhancing stealth and offering better suitability for littoral operations.

Type 212 Submarine:Source-www.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com

Why is P-75(I) A Boon For the IN?

          The IN has been entrusted with the onerous task of safeguarding India’s Eastern and Western seaboards, which include island territories, an Exclusive Economic Zone covering 2 million sq Km and a 7500 Km coastline. Add to this India’s status and responsibility as the ‘preferred security provider’ of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), since it sits at the IOR’s crown!  The Sea Lines of Communication across all these water bodies, which also contain geographical bottlenecks, are vital routes for movement of own and friendly maritime trade.  Both our Western and Northern neighbours have viable Navies with sizable submarine arsenals, which could threaten India’s maritime security or resources, and standing as a regional balancer.  The IN must also possess, at all times, the ‘muscle’ to decisively deter/prevent strategic encirclement of the Indian subcontinent by China, through the latter’s ‘string of pearls’ policy. Any threat posed towards compromising India’s access to the aforementioned spaces has to be thwarted immediately and definitively. Additionally, non-conventional threats, including piracy and smuggling/trafficking need to be denied sea space to operate and opportunity to exploit resources/interfere with maritime trade. Power projection to safeguard India’s standing as a regional heavyweight with the onus of ensuring maritime harmony in these waters is another responsibility that needs to be shouldered largely by the IN.

While many of the tasks above require a formidable surface fleet, deterrence/denial of sea space is a task ideally executed by the submarine arm. The IN, therefore, must at all times, strive to maintain a viable and self-reliant surface and sub-surface arsenal, in sufficient numbers to be able to execute such tasks in/beyond the Western, Eastern and Southern waters encircling India.

The IN presently has 19 submarines, including two nuclear-powered submarines, with a fewer number remaining battle-ready at all times. This arsenal includes aging boats with a vintage of three to four decades.  Addition of six DEA submarines with AIP under P-75 (I) will allow the IN to ensure sub-surface presence along both seaboards and in the Northern IOR in sufficient numbers, keeping in mind off-station requirements of refit, repair etc. The P-75(I) submarines will enjoy enhanced stealth as compared to their predecessors, advanced underwater endurance capabilities due to low-observable profile and AIP, advanced sub-surface/surface surveillance/detection capabilities and will mount maritime/land attack weapon systems. These features would provide the IN with significant advantage in execution of the above littoral and deep-water tasks over the next three decades and beyond.

Conclusion

The P-75(I) venture, with cutting-edge technological collaboration and focus on a high level of indigenisation, will serve to bolster India’s maritime operational capabilities, while at the same time consolidating an indigenous industrial base for future big-ticket Defence projects. Project-75 (India) would therefore inarguably be a shot in the arm for India’s maritime defence and the associated ecosystem, well into the times to come.

[1] MoD Press Release https://pib.gov.in/pressreleasepage.aspx?prid=1737191 of 20 July 2021.

[1] Endnote 1 ibid.

[1] https://www.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com/en/products-services/submarines/class-214