The Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system’s steel cutting ceremony was held at the L&T Hazira facility on December 28, 2024, under the direction of Dr. Samir V. Kamat, the Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Under knowledge transfer from DRDO, L&T Precision Systems and Engineering is manufacturing the AIP technology created by DRDO for the INS Kalvari class of submarines. During the ceremony, Secretary DDR&D expressed his satisfaction with the AIP system manufacturing’s positive progress.
This event represents a major turning point in India’s AIP program, which is essential for improving submarines’ operational capabilities by enabling them to stay below for extended periods of time without coming to the surface to breathe.
Dr. Kamat highlighted the AIP system’s potential influence on the Indian Navy’s submarine fleet during the ceremony and expressed satisfaction with the system’s development.
The AIP technology is anticipated to greatly increase the underwater endurance of diesel-electric submarines, especially the fuel cell-based version that DRDO is developing in partnership with industrial partners like L&T and Thermax.
