The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is set to seek the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval for the construction of six new submarines under India’s Project 75, according to senior defence officials. This move aims to boost the Indian Navy’s underwater combat strength amid evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Project 75 is part of India’s broader strategy to modernise its submarine fleet with advanced conventional submarines built with enhanced stealth, sensors and weapon systems. The new vessels are expected to feature air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, helping them remain submerged for longer durations without surfacing, vastly improving their tactical effectiveness.
The additional submarines would be in addition to the existing P75 series, which already includes Scorpene-class submarines built under technology transfer agreements with foreign partners and constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The project, to be executed with the support of Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is estimated at $8 billion ( ₹66,000 crore), with the submarines expected to be commissioned by the end of this decade. Analysts say expanding the fleet under Project 75 would help the Navy maintain a credible undersea deterrent while enhancing its maritime security architecture.
Officials noted that the proposal reflects India’s ongoing commitment to strengthen its indigenous defence production, with an emphasis on self-reliance under initiatives like Make in India and building high-technology platforms domestically. The acquisition, if approved, would also support skilled manufacturing jobs and broader naval industrial capacity.
