Indian Navy New Submarine Options: India is looking at buying three more conventional submarines for the Navy. The idea is to keep undersea strength steady until the next fully indigenous submarines, called Project-76, are ready later on. Recent reports say the government is still weighing the design choice, and the wider submarine push is moving ahead with the big Project-75I deal too.
The two Paths being Studied
One option is to use the design meant for Project-75I. That program was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council in 2021 for six modern submarines with fuel-cell based Air Independent Propulsion, and the original estimate was around ₹43,000 crore. Later reports in 2025 and 2026 said the Project-75I deal had become much larger and that the German-Indian team of tkMS and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders was the main contender. Reuters also reported that the planned submarines would use AIP so they can stay underwater for longer without surfacing.
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The second option is an upgraded “Advanced Kalvari” class. This would use the same shipbuilding setup that already exists at Mazagon Dock. That yard already built six Kalvari-class submarines under Project-75, with the last one, INS Vaghsheer, delivered on January 9, 2025 and commissioned on January 15, 2025. The Indian Navy and the government have already gained a lot of hands-on experience from that line, which makes this path easier for cost, speed, and spare parts.
Advanced Kalvari route and Project-75I Route
If India picks the Project-75I route, the new boats would likely be based on the German U-214NG, which is a newer Type-214 variant. That would give the Navy a very modern submarine with strong stealth and long underwater endurance. It would also fit well with the technology transfer plan tied to Project-75I. The trade-off is that this path needs a fresh production and support setup, which takes more time and effort to build.
If India goes with the “Advanced Kalvari” route, the benefit is simpler. The Navy could use an active factory line, known supply chains, and workers who already know this submarine family well. Reports also say the upgraded boats could come with better sensors, newer combat systems, improved batteries, and more Indian parts. That makes the plan cheaper and faster, even if it is not as advanced as a full new design.
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What Next?
The final choice has not been locked in yet. The Ministry of Defence and the Navy are still looking at cost, delivery speed, indigenous content, combat power, and long-term maintenance.
