New Delhi: The Indigenous AIP system developed for the Indian Navy’s diesel-electric submarines has achieved a key milestone with the inauguration of the ‘Setting to Work Phase (STW)-2’ activity for its Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Energy Module.
The Indigenous AIP system has been developed by the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The system is designed to enhance the underwater endurance of diesel-electric submarines by reducing their dependence on atmospheric oxygen.
The STW-2 activity was inaugurated on October 24, 2026, at Larsen & Toubro’s AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat. Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Rajesh Kumar Singh was the Chief Guest and graced the ceremony virtually.
Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy Vice Admiral B Sivakumar, and Director General (Naval Systems & Materials), DRDO, Dr R Balamuralikrishnan, attended the event at L&T Hazira, Gujarat.
The milestone marks another stage in the development and validation of the Indigenous AIP system, which is intended to improve the underwater endurance capabilities of Indian Navy diesel-electric submarines.
Speaking on the occasion, DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh congratulated DRDO and its industry partners and appreciated the scientific perseverance and industrial cooperation involved in the indigenous AIP programme.
He said the programme had culminated into a productive reality on the shop floor. He also acknowledged the cooperation extended by the Indian Navy to DRDO throughout the programme, including testing and validation at every stage of the trials.
The DRDO Chairman emphasised the need to work towards the next phases of the programme to meet the Indian Navy’s induction timelines for the Indigenous AIP system.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining an exacting safety culture for hydrogen and fuel cell systems without compromise.
The next phase will focus on energising the AIP Energy Module for power production. The module will subsequently undergo rigorous testing in accordance with Indian Navy protocols.
Following the testing process, the Indigenous AIP system Energy Module is scheduled to be handed over to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) for integration with a Kalvari-class submarine in early 2027.
The development of the Indigenous AIP system represents a significant stage in the ongoing indigenous AIP programme involving DRDO, the Indian Navy and industry partners.
The programme is aimed at advancing the underwater endurance capabilities of diesel-electric submarines through an air-independent propulsion capability.
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