India is advancing its naval strength with the official approval of Project-77, a game-changing program to design and construct a new class of indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs).
Sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in October 2024, this initiative marks a major milestone in India's naval modernization. It introduces next-generation underwater warfare capabilities, including a groundbreaking mothership role for large unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).
The first phase involves building two SSNs, with an eventual target of a six-submarine fleet expected to become fully operational by the mid-2030s.
Advanced Capabilities and Push for Defence Self-Reliance
The Project-77 submarines are expected to be powerful underwater assets, each with an estimated displacement of nearly 10,000 tonnes.
They will be propelled by a 190-megawatt pressurized light-water reactor developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), allowing top speeds over 30 knots (56 km/h).
This project is in line with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision. With a goal of achieving 95% indigenous content and an initial allocation of ₹40,000 crore (approximately US$4.7 billion) for the first two submarines, it represents a monumental step in domestic defence manufacturing.
These submarines will be multi-mission platforms capable of anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare, land-attack operations, intelligence gathering, and surveillance.
Manned-Unmanned Teaming: The Future of Submarine Warfare
A defining innovation in Project-77 is its integration of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T). Each SSN will serve as a command-and-control mothership, capable of deploying indigenous 20-ton UUVs like the JALKAPI-XLUUV.
This concept parallels the “loyal wingman” model seen in next-gen aerial combat, where autonomous systems support a manned fighter jet.
In the underwater realm, this allows the submarine to maintain stealth in secure waters, while directing unmanned assets forward for high-risk operations—including reconnaissance, mine detection, or even combat engagement in hostile environments.
Strategic Response to Shifting Regional Dynamics
Project-77 is India's calculated answer to emerging maritime threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Chinese Navy’s expanding reach, especially through submarines and port access in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has heightened the need for robust undersea defences.
These nuclear attack submarines, when paired with UUVs, will significantly bolster the protection of high-value Indian naval assets, including aircraft carrier groups centered around INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
Aligning with Global Naval Technology Trends
India’s embrace of manned-unmanned teaming in submarine warfare places it among an elite group of technologically advanced navies.
The U.S. Navy’s Orca XLUUV, along with China’s and Russia’s autonomous underwater platforms, reflect a global pivot towards integrating artificial intelligence and automation in maritime defence.
India’s Project-77 not only helps close the gap but also asserts its strategic presence in this emerging arena of next-generation undersea warfare.
Timeline and Indigenous Development
The first Project-77 submarine is expected to be launched within 10 to 12 years, with commissioning projected by 2036–2037.
This high-tech program involves collaboration across India's defence ecosystem:
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Design: Led by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau
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Hull Construction: Managed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
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Final Assembly: Executed at the Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam
Crucially, India's past experience with the Arihant-class SSBNs lays the technical groundwork for this ambitious leap forward.
With Project-77, India is not only future-proofing its naval force but also reinforcing its strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific. By merging nuclear submarine capabilities with autonomous underwater systems, India is setting a new benchmark in self-reliant, high-tech underwater warfare.
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