New Delhi, June 9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) shipbuilding complex at Hazira in Gujarat has cast fresh attention on India’s efforts to build a new generation of indigenous conventional submarines under the ambitious Project 76 programme.
During the visit on June 6, L&T Chairman and Managing Director SN Subrahmanyan presented Modi with a scale model of the proposed submarine, offering a glimpse into what is expected to become the backbone of India’s future undersea combat capabilities.
The Indian Navy currently operates 16 conventional submarines. Apart from the six French-origin Kalvari-class vessels commissioned in recent years, most of the remaining fleet comprises ageing platforms that have been in service for more than three decades. Project 76 is expected to play a key role in achieving the Navy’s long-term objective of maintaining a fleet of 24 submarines capable of providing credible deterrence.
Photographs shared by the Prime Minister showing him receiving the model quickly drew the attention of defence analysts and industry experts, who noted that the design appeared to represent a future diesel-electric attack submarine equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology. The system would allow the submarines to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing, significantly enhancing their stealth and endurance.
The detailed design phase of Project 76 is expected to be completed during the current financial year. Unlike previous conventional submarine programmes, which depended heavily on foreign original equipment manufacturers – including France for the Kalvari class, Germany for the next-generation boats and Russia for the Kilo-class submarines inducted in the 1980s – Project 76 is envisaged as a largely indigenous effort.
The Navy aims to achieve an initial indigenous content level of around 75 percent, with the figure eventually rising above 90 percent. Critical systems ranging from sonars and communication suites to periscopes, weapon control systems and even the specialised steel used in construction are planned to be sourced domestically.
While indigenous AIP modules are currently being developed for retrofitting onto the Kalvari-class submarines, the systems intended for Project 76 will deliver greater power output to support larger platforms. The submarines are also expected to incorporate advanced indigenous lithium-ion battery banks, improving underwater sprint capability and energy efficiency.
L&T brings decades of experience to the programme, having been associated with India’s Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project for nearly 30 years. The initiative has already produced three Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, with a fourth vessel expected to join the fleet in the near future.
Modi’s visit to the Hazira facility underscored the growing role of Indian industry in developing complex naval platforms and highlighted New Delhi’s broader push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
