NEW DELHI: The Navy has moved a step closer to having its conventional diesel-electric submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology, which will enhance their underwater endurance and stealth, even as the fifth Scorpene submarine was commissioned in Mumbai on Monday.
The defence ministry said the indigenous fuel cell-based AIP developed by the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of DRDO will “soon” be fitted in the first Scorpene submarine, INS Kalvari, which was commissioned in December 2017. Though the MoD did not specify the timeline, sources said the AIP is likely to be fitted on INS Kalvari when it goes for its first scheduled refit next year.
“An agreement was signed on Monday between NMRL and the Naval Group France to extend cooperation to enter into the detailed design phase for integration of the indigenous AIP in the Kalvari-class submarines. As part of the agreement, the Naval Group France will certify the AIP design for integration in the submarines,” the MoD said.
With INS Vagir being commissioned, the sixth and the last Scorpene submarine will be delivered by the end of this year.