Associated News Bureau

Indigenous AIP System for Indian Navy Submarines Achieves Key Milestone

New Delhi, October 24: India’s efforts to strengthen its underwater warfare capabilities have achieved a significant milestone with the commencement of the second phase of the Setting to Work (STW-2) activity for the indigenously developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system’s Energy Module. Developed by the Naval Materials Research Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the AIP system is designed to enhance the underwater endurance of diesel-electric submarines by reducing their dependence on atmospheric oxygen. The inauguration ceremony was held on October 24 at Larsen & Toubro’s AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat. Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development, and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh attended the event virtually. Indian Navy Chief of Materiel Vice Admiral B Sivakumar and DRDO Director General (Naval Systems and Materials) Dr R Balamuralikrishnan were present at the venue. Addressing the occasion, Singh congratulated DRDO scientists and industry partners, commending their scientific perseverance and industrial collaboration in translating the indigenous AIP programme into a tangible achievement. He also acknowledged the Indian Navy’s sustained support, particularly its role in testing and validating the system at various stages. The DRDO chairman stressed the need to advance the programme’s subsequent phases in line with the Navy’s planned induction timelines, while maintaining stringent safety standards for hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies. In the next phase, the AIP Energy Module will be activated for power generation and subjected to rigorous testing in accordance with Indian Navy protocols. Following successful testing, it will be handed over to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for integration into a Kalvari-class submarine. The integration is targeted for early 2027, marking a further step towards strengthening the Indian Navy’s underwater operational capabilities through . ANB