With rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific, regional powers including India, China, South Korea, and Australia are intensifying investments in advanced submarine technologies.
India's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently approved the indigenous construction of two nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) under the Project 75-Alpha initiative. This decision is a significant step toward strengthening the Indian Navy’s capabilities in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
According to GlobalData’s report, Global Submarine Market Analysis and Forecast to 2033, India is anticipated to invest around $31.6 billion in submarine acquisition over the next decade, with 30.5% of this budget allocated to Project 75-Alpha SSNs. This investment in six SSNs under Project 75-Alpha is valued at approximately $17 billion.
A collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Department of Atomic Energy, and the Indian Navy, Project 75-Alpha aims to develop a submarine with an estimated 6,000-tonne displacement. However, recent reports suggest that the displacement could reach approximately 10,000 tonnes.
The Project-75-Alpha or Project-77 SSNs will be built at the highly classified Shipbuilding Centre in Visakhapatnam, the site of the construction of Arihant-class SSBNs under the Advanced Technology Vessels (ATV) program. These submarines are national strategic assets with restricted access to protect their facility and infrastructure, ensuring that information regarding their capabilities remains confidential for national security.
Equipped with powerful conventional weapons, Project-75-Alpha SSNs will carry Nirbhay subsonic land-attack cruise missiles, BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, and BrahMos-II hypersonic missiles, along with Varunastra heavyweight torpedoes. They are expected to enter operational status by 2030.
The remaining 69.5% of India’s submarine acquisition budget will focus on conventional submarines. India plans to construct three additional Kalvari-class conventional submarines at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, as well as six submarines under Project-75I. German firm TKMS is currently leading with the Type-212CD design for Project-75I, with these submarines expected to be operational by 2032.
This robust submarine acquisition program is part of India’s broader initiative to modernize its armed forces. In addition to submarines, the Indian Navy is also investing in new aircraft carriers, warships, and fighter jets, with the goal of expanding its fleet from approximately 140 larger combat vessels to over 200 by 2035.
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