India's twin submarine dilemma: India Today update

Key points

• Two crucial indigenous submarine programmes, to build a conventional diesel-electric submarine and a nuclear-powered attack submarine, will decide the trajectory of India’s maritime power in the 21st century.
• Project 76 will build six large diesel-electric conventional submarines (SSKs) to an indigenous design.
• This is a crucial capability because, despite operating submarines for close to 60 years, India has never designed and built its own submarines.
• Read Full Story Even more significant is the Project 77 nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 2024. The first P-77 SSN will enter service in the mid-2030s.
• STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF SSNs SSNs are powered by nuclear reactors and travel at twice the speed of SSKs.