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Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), India's foremost submarine construction company, is embarking on an independent project to design a new conventional diesel-electric submarine.
This initiative positions MDL in direct competition with a parallel design effort being undertaken by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy's future Project-76 submarine program.
An official from MDL confirmed on March 18, 2025, that the company's internal design team is developing a unique submarine concept. This move aims to provide the Indian Navy with two distinct, domestically developed options for its next generation of underwater vessels, potentially fostering greater innovation and flexibility in naval procurement under Project-76.
Based in Mumbai, MDL has a distinguished history as the only shipyard in India to have built submarines based on two different foreign designs: the German-origin Shishumar-class (Type 209) submarines built in the 1980s and the French-designed Scorpene-class submarines currently being delivered under Project-75.
With five Scorpenes already commissioned and a sixth nearing completion, MDL is set to build six more advanced submarines featuring Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) under Project-75I, partnering with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
Drawing upon this extensive manufacturing experience, MDL is now venturing into creating its own submarine design, separate from DRDO's Project-76 initiative.
The MDL official highlighted that the company's design team is actively engaging with the Indian Navy to ensure their proposed submarine aligns with the force's operational requirements.
"Our in-house team is in talks with the Navy so that our design is ready around the same time as DRDO’s," the official stated, indicating a strategy to present competing designs concurrently.
This approach means the Navy could evaluate two indigenous proposals side-by-side. While DRDO has reportedly sought approval and funding from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for its design phase (estimated at three years, followed by five years for construction), MDL plans to fund its design work internally. This decision underscores MDL's confidence in its technical expertise and financial capacity.
The competition between the state-owned shipbuilder and the national defence research agency reflects India's increasing emphasis on self-reliance ('Atmanirbhar Bharat') in the defence sector.
DRDO's vision for Project-76 involves six AIP-equipped submarines with a target of 90-95% indigenous content, building upon its experience with nuclear submarine programs and the development of an indigenous AIP system planned for retrofitting onto Scorpene submarines starting potentially in 2025.
MDL, conversely, brings the practical perspective of a seasoned shipbuilder, informed by decades of constructing complex naval platforms and its collaboration with TKMS on the advanced German Type 212/214 platform for Project-75I.
There are suggestions that MDL's design might incorporate lessons learned from both the Scorpene project and the German partnership, potentially offering advanced capabilities in stealth and propulsion systems specifically suited to India's maritime environment.
This emerging rivalry could prove advantageous for the Indian Navy, which currently operates a fleet of 16 conventional submarines (comprising Kilo, Shishumar, and Scorpene classes), many of which are aging and approaching retirement.
The Navy aims to operate a fleet of 18 conventional and six nuclear attack submarines by 2035. Having two potential designs materialize around that timeframe could accelerate fleet modernization or provide a viable alternative if one project faces delays.
"Both designs will in a way compete with each other, allowing the Navy to look into both options and pick the best fit,” the MDL official noted.
However, pursuing two separate design projects concurrently raises considerations about efficient resource allocation. While DRDO leverages its established research ecosystem and partnership with the Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB), MDL utilizes its practical manufacturing know-how and internal funding.
Although some might argue for pooling resources, proponents suggest that competition, similar to models used in countries like the United States, can drive innovation and ultimately deliver a superior product for the nation's defence.
