An agreement between DRDO and Naval Group France is signed to safely include the homegrown system in Kalvari-class submarines.
Fuel Cell-based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system from DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) will shortly be installed onboard INS Kalvari, providing a significant boost to “Aatmanirbhar Bharat.” On January 23, 2023, senior representatives of NMRL and Naval Group France signed a document in Mumbai extending their cooperation as they began the comprehensive design phase for the integration of indigenous AIP in the Kalvari class submarines. Naval Group France will approve the AIP design for incorporation in the submarines as part of the arrangement. It is important to note that the NMRL’s AIP’s land-based prototype has undergone successful testing.
This new initiative will be an important step toward the detailed design certification of the energy module, which will be carried out by NMRL in collaboration with Indian industry, and design of the platforms impacted by the integration of the homegrown AIP inside the Indian submarine by Naval Group. These steps would smoothly pave the way for the start of localization and industrialization of AIP, including the production of the submarine hulls by the Indian industry for future installation on board.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Pierre Eric Pommellet, Chairman & CEO of Naval Group France, expressed his company’s pride in working with Indian stakeholders to securely incorporate the AIP in the Kalvari class submarines, which Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited has manufactured. This is a logical progression of India and France’s existing strategic bilateral collaboration in the area of undersea defence and deterrence and is consistent with Naval Group’s ongoing support of the government’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” strategy.
Kshatriya Mantri In order to advance the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in the undersea realm, Shri Rajnath Singh has praised the DRDO, Indian Navy, and MDL. The Indian Navy, NMRL, MDL, and Naval Group France were also hailed for this strategic alliance by Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr. Samir V Kamat.
