Project 76-class submarine: Difference between revisions

Planned class of submarines

Project-76

Name	P76-class submarines
Operators	Indian Navy
Preceded by	Project 75I class
Cost	₹70,000 crore (US$8.3 billion)
Planned	6
Type	Attack submarine
Displacement	3,000 tonnes
Propulsion
Armament	Heavyweight torpedoes and Land-attack cruise missiles

Project-76, also referred to as P76, is an initiative by India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy (IN). The submarine is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).^[1]

Background

In 1997, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) – the highest-decision making body of India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), approved the construction of two Type 209/1500 attack submarines (SSK) at a then-estimated cost of INR ₹700 crore. This effort, which was conceived in the wake of an international corruption scandal related to India’s acquisition of the Shishumar-class submarines, called for the construction of two Type 209/1500 SSKs at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) with the assistance of a foreign naval firm in a corroborative role. In accordance with the scheme, the Indian Navy (IN) and MDL approached several naval enterprises for assistance; however, the French-based Thomson-CSF (TCSF) was the only firm willing to participate.^[2]

Two years later, in July 1999, the MoD approved a two-phase plan to build 24 submarines over a 30-year period.^[3] The plan was named ‘Project for Series Construction of Submarines for the Indian Navy and Acquisition of National Competence in Submarine Building’. For the first phase, six submarines each were to be built at MDL under Project 75 (P-75) along with a parallel production line under Project-75 (India) or P-75(I) with technology transfer. Under the second phase, twelve submarines would be built including complete indigenous design, development and construction of submarines in India.^[2][4]

For the P-75, two options emerged. The first being construction of the Type 209/1500 at MDL initially with the combat suite of TCSF with the rest being based on modified Scorpène submarine design based on Naval requirements. The second option recommended the construction of all the SSKs based on the newer Scorpène design. Ultimately, the Naval Heqadquarters chose the latter, reasoning that the Scorpène, which had been offered with a provision of technology transfer (TOT), was more advanced than the Type 209/1500. The initial plan to ally with TCSF was dropped in April 2001 and negotiations for the procurement of the Scorpène design under the first phase, dubbed Project-75 (P-75), began in November 2001. The Scorpène design was offered by another French-based naval firm, Armaris (later DCNS, now Naval Group).^[2]

Though the second batch of six submarines, under Project-75 (India), was to be executed simultaneously alongside P-75, financial constraints within the MoD led to P-75 being the only project sanctioned for six submarines. Proposals to move ahead with the acquisition failed twice after the project was approved in 2010 and 2014.^[5] The third approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Indian Minister of Defence, was accorded in January 2019.^[6][7] In January 2025, the bid by Larsen & Toubro to build S-80 Plus-class submarine, in collaboration with Spain’s Navantia, was disqualified. Mazagon Dock’s partnership with TKMS remained the only bidder who were thereafter invited for techno-commercial negotiations with the Indian Ministry of Defence. Negotiations were reported to have began in July 2025 while the deal could be signed in January 2026.

Though the second batch of six submarines, under Project-75 (India), was to be executed simultaneously alongside P-75, with both projects envisioned to deliver 18 SSKs by 2030. However, financial constraints within the MoD led to P-75 being the only project sanctioned, with a target to build six submarines.^[8][9]

Development

Naval Design Bureau was working on diesel-electric submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) in 2022.^[1][10] DRDO started a one-year feasibility study for the project as a continuation of Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project in July 2024.^[11] As of February 2025, proposal for the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval would be ready by 2 months. Post approval, two to three years would be required for design phase followed by five years for construction and induction. The submarines would be equipped with torpedo tube-launched LACMs and displace 3,000 tonnes.^[12]

See also

References to the Indian Navy

References