At the end of June, a commission from the Indian Navy will visit Navantia’s facilities in Cartagena, Spain, to evaluate various aspects of the proposal for constructing new submarines under Project 75(I). This program aims to develop advanced conventional submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), with Navantia and the Spanish government supporting the S-80 class submarines currently being built for the Spanish Navy.
The Indian Navy’s Project-75 aims to acquire six conventional propulsion submarines integrating an Air Independent Propulsion system, to be built under contract in India as part of the “Make in India” initiative. Navantia’s proposal, backed by the Spanish government, aligns with the project’s guidelines and is based on the design of their S80 submarines built for the Spanish Navy, with the first one (Isaac Peral S-81) launched in 2021.
According to reports from Indian media, Spain aims for full technology transfer of the AIP system, which allows submarines to stay submerged for longer periods compared to earlier generations, in order to increase the chances of their proposal being selected by the Indian government. The projected investment for this program is USD 5.270 billion.
Navantia has stated that the S80 project design meets the requirements of India’s Project 75, with the submarine expected to produce over 300 kW of power without requiring redesign or enlargement. It incorporates state-of-the-art technologies such as the BEST IAP (Bioethanol Silent Technology), third-generation AIP, and an advanced sensor suite. Additionally, L&T partnered with Navantia in mid-2023 to provide lithium-ion battery technology for Project 75(I).
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