Kalvari Submarine: The Indian Navy is making a big upgrade to its six Kalvari-class submarines. These submarines, which are already very strong and important for the country’s defence, will soon be fitted with a new technology called Air Independent Propulsion, or AIP. This new system will help these submarines stay deep under the sea for a longer time without needing to come up to the surface.
These submarines, which run on diesel and electric power, need to come up every 4 to 5 days to recharge their batteries. But once they get the AIP system, they can stay hidden underwater for 8 to 10 days without needing to come up at all.
This is a big thing for the Navy because when a submarine comes close to the surface, it becomes easier for the enemy to find it. The diesel engine inside the submarine needs air to work, and when it runs, it makes noise and heat. These can be picked up by enemy warships using sonar.
Every time the submarine comes up to recharge, it gets risky. But the AIP system changes all that. It lets the submarine’s batteries charge without using the loud diesel engine, so the submarine can stay hidden and quiet for many more days.
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How the Kalvari Submarines will get AIP System?
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made this AIP system in India. It will now be added to the Kalvari-class submarines through a very careful process. The French company Naval Group and India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) are working together on this. On Thursday, both groups announced that they would continue their teamwork to help install the AIP system onto the submarines.
To put this AIP system inside the submarines, the engineers will go through a tough and complicated process known as “jumboisation”. This means they will cut open the submarine’s outer body, place the AIP system, which they also call the “indigenous energy system plug”, and then join the whole thing back together safely.
This work needs to be done very carefully to make sure the submarine works perfectly after the upgrade. Since the Kalvari-class is based on the French-made Scorpene-class submarines, the Naval Group from France will help by giving important technical support, special materials, and training to Indian engineers from MDL.
In December last year, the Indian Ministry of Defence gave a contract worth ₹1,990 crore to MDL for building the AIP system’s plug and putting it inside the submarines. This shows how serious the government is about making the defence system stronger with Indian-made technology.
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According to Tribune India, a top person from the Naval Group, Laurent Espinasse, who is the Executive Vice President of the submarine division, said, “We are honoured to deepen our partnership with the MDL and the DRDO. The integration of indigenous energy system into the Kalvari-class submarines is a major step forward in our shared journey toward technological and operational advancements.”
The Naval Group also gave a statement that said this project is proof of how both MDL and the Naval Group support India’s dream of becoming more self-reliant in defence. They also said it helps the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” plan by using technology made by DRDO inside the submarines.
