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In a bid to bolster the underwater combat capabilities of the Indian Navy, the Ministry of Defence is evaluating the procurement of three extra conventional submarines.
These new vessels are intended to serve as a critical stopgap, maintaining fleet strength until the fully indigenous Project-76 submarines are ready for deployment.
Currently, the government has not decided if these three submarines will utilize the upcoming Project-75I technology or rely on an upgraded design of the already operational Kalvari-class.
The first alternative involves adopting the design from the ambitious Project-75I programme.
The mega contract for this project, estimated at around ₹70,000 crore for six submarines, is anticipated to be granted to the joint venture between Germany's thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) and India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
The TKMS-MDL team is proposing the U-214NG, a highly sophisticated variant of the German Type-214 submarine.
This next-generation vessel features fuel-cell-based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, which allows it to remain submerged for weeks without surfacing, thereby significantly improving its stealth and operational endurance.
The second alternative is to construct an "Advanced Kalvari" class. This approach would take full advantage of the manufacturing infrastructure, skilled workforce, and domestic supply chains that were developed during the original Project-75.
Under that initiative, MDL successfully built six Kalvari-class submarines—based on the Scorpène design from France's Naval Group—with the final vessel, INS Vaghsheer, commissioned into service in January 2025. This proven track record has provided India with deep industrial expertise in submarine construction.
Opting for the Advanced Kalvari design offers clear logistical and financial benefits.
By relying on an active and established production ecosystem, the Ministry of Defence could minimize development risks, accelerate delivery schedules, and keep costs down compared to building an entirely new class of submarines.
Furthermore, these upgraded vessels would benefit from the practical experience gained from the six existing Kalvari-class boats.
They would likely feature enhanced sensors, better combat systems, advanced battery technology, and a higher proportion of homegrown Indian components.
Conversely, choosing the U-214NG design from Project-75I would equip the Indian Navy with a state-of-the-art platform armed with cutting-edge technologies.
This path aligns closely with the extensive technology transfer agreements expected in the Project-75I deal, pushing India closer to complete self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
While this option ensures that the three new boats would share common parts and maintenance routines with the future Project-75I fleet, it does come with the challenge of building an entirely new production and logistics network from the ground up.
As of now, the final path forward remains undecided. The Indian Navy, alongside the Ministry of Defence, is carefully weighing both proposals.
Decision-makers will thoroughly assess critical factors including total project costs, speed of delivery, the percentage of indigenous content, overall combat effectiveness, and long-term maintenance requirements before finalizing the design that best secures India's maritime interests.
