India Developing Air-Independent Propulsion

The DRDO proposes to develop a technology to reduce vulnerability of the submarines available with the Indian Navy. Naval Material Research Laboratory (NMRL), Ambernath, under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is progressing a technology demonstration project "Development of Land-based Prototype for Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)" for submarine propulsion. Vulnerability of a submarine can be reduced by increasing its underwater endurance (dived conditions). Normally diesel electric generators are used to charge the batteries that provide propulsion power when the submarine is in dived conditions. To run the generators, the submarine has to surface for taking in air and throwing out the exhaust. Using AIP system, submarine can charge the batteries without surfacing. The full-scale operation of such a system is likely to be demonstrated by 2015. This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Dhruva Narayana in Lok Sabha today.