Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)
MDL and WDB starts designing 12 Project-76 indigenous diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy
The Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and Mazagaon Dock Limited have started design work of an indigenous diesel-electric submarine under Project-76 that is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 after which extensive testing and optimization work will be conducted, paving the way for its manufacturing clearance by late 2028.
The project aims to leverage advanced Indian Technologies like weapon control systems, Air Independent Propulsion system, Fuel cell-based Lithium-ion batteries and sensors.
As per plan, 6 next-generation diesel-electric submarines will be built in the first phase followed by 6 additional submarines with enhanced capabilities in the second phase.
These submarines will feature Vertical Launch System (VLS) above to launch a mix of subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic anti-ship and land attack long-range cruise missiles like Nirbhay, LR-LACM, BrahMos, BrahMos-II(K), and DRDO’s own HSTDV based naval hypersonic cruise missiles. Apart from missiles, these submarines will also have torpedo tubes in the mouth section like every other submarine and will feature Indian torpedo systems like Varunastra heavy-weight torpedo and Shakti light-weight torpedo. These submarines may also be equipped with SMART (Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo) missiles in their VLS to attack enemy submarines with torpedoes at longer ranges. 12 Project-76 indigenous diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy 12 Project-76 indigenous diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy 12 Project-76 indigenous diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy 12 Project-76 indigenous diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy 12 Project-76 indigenous diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy IgMp
