A significant milestone has been achieved in enhancing the Indian Navy’s underwater capabilities, with the inauguration of the ‘Work Start Phase‑2’ (Setting to Work Phase‑2) activity for the indigenous Air‑Independent Propulsion (AIP) system energy module developed by the Navy Materials Research Laboratory, DRDO. The AIP system boosts the endurance of diesel‑electric submarines by reducing their reliance on atmospheric oxygen.
The inauguration ceremony was held on 24 October 2026 at Larsen & Toubro’s AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex, Hazira, Gujarat. Defence Secretary and Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development, and DRDO Chairman Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh were the chief guests, participating virtually. Indian Navy material chief Vice Admiral B. Shivkumar and DRDO Director General (Navy Systems and Materials) Dr. A. Bala Murali Krishna were present at the event in L&T Hazira, Gujarat.
At the event, the DRDO Chairman congratulated DRDO and industry partners and praised the scientific perseverance and industrial collaboration in the indigenous AIP programme, which has now moved from shop‑floor to production reality. He acknowledged the cooperation provided by the Indian Navy to DRDO, including testing and validation at each trial stage during the programme. He emphasized working on the next phases to meet the Navy’s timeline for integrating the AIP system, while maintaining an uncompromised safety culture for hydrogen and fuel‑cell systems.
In the next phase, the AIP energy module will be activated for power generation and subjected to rigorous testing as per Indian Navy procedures, after which it will be handed over to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in early 2027 for integration into a Kalvari‑class submarine.