The ₹60,000-crore P75(I) submarine programme will be the first defence deal to be announced under the ‘Strategic Partnership’ (SP) policy announced by Union Cabinet in May 2017.
The P75(I) or ‘Project 75 India’ is a programme of the Indian Navy to the already undergoing construction of six Scorpene class diesel-electric submarines that are being built at the Mazagon Dock Ltd through technology transfer from France’s DCNS.
The P75(I) was announced in October 2014. The submarines to be built under this programme will be technologically more enhanced than the ones that are nearing completion under P75.
India has plans to build a fleet of 24 submarines for the navy.
Under P75(I), the submarines will have Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), under which these can stay longer inside water.
Besides, it will also have a vertical launch system that will enable these submarines to have multiple Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles for land attack.
Additionally, a brand new cruise missile will be fitted as the main anti-ship missile.