THE GREAT SUBMARINE HUNT IS ON

INDIA'S BIG SUBMARINE ACQUISITION PROGRAMME, PROJECT 75 (I), IS ROLLING FORWARD AT FULL STEAM. WITH AN EXPANDING CHINESE SUBMARINE FLEET EXTENDING ITS REACH IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, IT MUST MOVE FASTER STILL

- Pradip R. Sagar

Ever since they first made a deadly impact in early 20th-century naval warfare, submarines have been silent and unseen guardians of the deep. Essential for navies for surveillance, tracking and pursuit, and destruction of hostile platforms, they have acquired added relevance in the nuclear age. Now, the Indian Navy is gearing up for its biggest-ever submarine acquisition programme, Project 75 (India) or P75(I). Initiated in 1997, the Rs 43,000 crore programme aims to build six advanced diesel-electric conventional submarines, equipped with better sensors, weapons and air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems through a joint venture. AIP systems allow non-nuclear submarines to stay submerged for as long as 12 days at a stretch, enhancing stealth capabilities. As per the Navy's request for proposal (RFP), the first submarine should have indigenous content of 45 per cent, which should go up to 60 per cent for the sixth submarine.