Indian Navy partners with Naval Group for integration of heavyweight torpedoes onboard Kalvari-class subs

December 31, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

The Indian Ministry of Defense has signed a deal with French company Naval Group for the integration of electronic heavyweight torpedoes (EHWT) onboard the Kalvari-class submarines.

As disclosed, the contract, worth Rs 877 crore (around $102.4 million), was signed in the presence of Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi on December 30, 2024.

The integration of EHWT will be a collaborative effort by the Indian Navy, DRDO, and Naval Group, France.

The officials noted that it would “greatly augment the firepower capabilities of Kalvari Class submarines of the Indian Navy”.

The Kalvari-class submarines, formally classified as the Project-75 submarines (P-75), are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines operated by the Indian Navy. The vessels are constructed by a syndicate of French and Indian shipyards, namely, Naval Group and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), respectively.

The class is an export derivative of the French-origin Scorpène-class submarine, originally designed by Naval Group.

The series of six submarines of the P75 program is fitted with equipment built in India. MDL has successfully absorbed the technology transfer from Naval Group, in line with the Indian government’s “Make in India” policy.

The units are designed for all types of missions, such as surface vessel warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations, or intelligence gathering.

INS Vagir, the fifth P75 Kalvari-class submarine, was commissioned last year.

India commissions fifth Kalvari-class submarine

Vessels

Furthermore, the Indian Ministry of Defense signed Rs 2,867 crore (approximately $232 million) for the construction of an air-independent propulsion (AIP) plug for the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)-AIP system and its integration onboard Indian submarines.

The AIP technology is being indigenously developed by DRDO. The project regarding the construction of AIP-plug and its integration is expected to enhance the endurance of conventional submarines.