Scorpene subs to get advanced air-independent propulsion for endurance

With no foreign submarine acquisitions in sight, India to upgrade existing fleet

As INS Vagir, the fifth Scorpene (Scorpion in French) submarine built by Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), Mumbai, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on Monday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that the air independent propulsion (AIP) developed by the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) would be reverse-integrated into the fleet of six Scorpenes.

“In a major boost to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, fuel cell-based AIP system of DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) will soon be fitted onboard INS Kalvari (the first of six Scorpene submarines built by MDL,” said a MoD press release.

Senior officials of NMRL and Naval Group (France) signed an