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During the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue held in Bengaluru on February 17, 2026, bilateral maritime security took centre stage.
French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin engaged with India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to explore the expansion of their underwater military cooperation.
A pivotal point of this discussion was France’s proposal for the Indian Navy to acquire additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines to strengthen its fleet.
Under the initial Project 75 initiative, India successfully built and commissioned six Scorpene-class vessels, locally designated as the Kalvari-class.
Constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai with assistance from France’s Naval Group, this programme significantly elevated India’s domestic shipbuilding expertise.
Through a comprehensive transfer of technology, Indian shipyards mastered complex manufacturing processes, from hull construction to advanced systems integration, ultimately equipping the Navy with a formidable fleet of modern diesel-electric attack submarines.
The final vessel of this class, INS Vagsheer, marked the completion of the original production line.
These Kalvari-class submarines have been instrumental in reinforcing India’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean. Armed with advanced sonar, heavyweight torpedoes, and superior stealth features, the six vessels have substantially upgraded the country's sea-denial capabilities.
With the original Project 75 contract now fulfilled, the government is carefully assessing the next steps to maintain and grow its subsurface fleet.
While procuring an upgraded variant of the Scorpene was previously considered, an estimated ₹36,000 crore deal for three additional submarines faced hurdles due to budget constraints. The anticipated costs were notably higher than the baseline price of the original six vessels.
In an environment where the defence budget must be carefully distributed across vital air, land, naval, and space domains, the financial implications of further Scorpene acquisitions prompted New Delhi to temporarily pause the plan.
Instead, the Indian government shifted its immediate focus toward Project-75I, a comprehensive programme to acquire six next-generation conventional submarines.
Valued at roughly ₹72,000 crore ($8 billion), this ambitious initiative demands advanced Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems for extended underwater endurance and superior combat technologies.
Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has recently emerged as the primary partner for this project, teaming up with MDL to deliver these submarines while significantly enhancing India's domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Project-75I remains a top priority because it promises a generational leap in stealth and operational range compared to the current Scorpene design.
It also serves as a crucial bridge toward India’s ultimate vision of achieving complete self-reliance in the design and production of underwater combat platforms, thereby gradually phasing out dependence on foreign manufacturers.
In tandem with these international partnerships, India is aggressively pursuing Project-76, an entirely indigenous submarine development programme.
Aiming to build up to 12 advanced 3,000-tonne conventional submarines, this project is being spearheaded by the Warship Design Bureau and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
With the design phase projected to conclude around 2027 or 2028, Project-76 represents a monumental stride toward sovereign submarine engineering and systems integration, featuring indigenous weapon control systems and lithium-ion battery technology.
Despite the focus on German and indigenous designs, France’s renewed push for additional Scorpene submarines presents a pragmatic option. As older Russian Kilo-class and German HDW submarines approach retirement, India faces a potential shortfall in underwater vessels.
Ordering three more Scorpenes—which Naval Group suggests could feature up to 60% indigenous content and a locally developed combat management system by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)—offers a rapid, low-risk solution.
The infrastructure and skilled workforce at MDL are already primed for this specific design, allowing for swift production and the seamless integration of modern upgrades.
Ultimately, maintaining a robust submarine fleet is an urgent priority for the Indian Navy. As maritime competition in the Indo-Pacific region accelerates and underwater surveillance technologies evolve, a credible subsurface deterrent is non-negotiable.
The government's final decision will need to weigh immediate fleet requirements against long-term goals of cost-efficiency, technology acquisition, and total indigenous capability.
