Project-75I

What is Project-75I?

• Project-75 (India), also known as P-75(I), is a military acquisition initiative by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). 
• The initiative aims to procure diesel-electric attack submarines with fuel cells and Air-Independent Propulsion System (AIP) for the Indian Navy to build India’s naval strength and develop indigenous submarine-building capabilities.

Difference between Project 75 and Project 75I?

• Project 75I is a follow-up to Project 75 and improves upon the design and technology of its predecessor. 
• The conventional diesel-electric submarines such as the Scorpene, under Project 75, come with improved stealth features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, long-range guided torpedoes, tube-launched anti-ship missiles, sonars and sensor suites.
• However, as electrical batteries power them, they need to surface every 48 hours to be recharged. 
• The AIP technology will improve on this in Project 75I building six submarines that can stay submerged for up to two weeks. 
  • An AIP module acts as a force multiplier as it enables conventional submarines to remain submerged for a longer duration thereby increasing their endurance and reducing chances of detection.
• These submarines may even be larger in size compared to the ones under Project 75.
• Another staggering difference between the projects is the budget, while Project 75 came to just Rs 23,000 crore, Project 75I is beginning at almost double the budget at a staggering Rs 43,000 crore.

However, as the bidding on Project-75I has only just begun, the project itself may take another two years before it starts.