India is actively considering placing an order for three additional Scorpène-class submarines to maintain momentum in its submarine-building programme and bridge a critical gap before the much-delayed P-75(I) project begins production. The move, reported by France-based defence portal Meta-Defence, reflects New Delhi's urgent priority to keep its industrial base alive and skilled ahead of the next generation of naval vessels.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), Mumbai, has been manufacturing the Kalvari-class submarines — an Indian variant of the French Scorpène design — under a landmark deal with French defence major Naval Group. Six ships in this class are either already commissioned or in various stages of construction. However, without a new contract, the production line at MDSL could face a prolonged idle period, potentially leading to the loss of specialised engineering talent and supply chain linkages that took years to build.
The P-75(I) programme, aimed at acquiring eight air-independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped submarines, remains stuck in a protracted selection process. Having undergone multiple iterations since its inception over a decade ago, it has yet to award a final contract, leaving a potential window of several years where no new submarine orders would flow to Indian shipyards.
Industry analysts suggest that an order for three more Scorpène-derived vessels would serve as a pragmatic stopgap — sustaining employment for thousands of skilled workers, keeping tooling and infrastructure active, and preserving the technology transfer framework established under the original Kalvari-class deal. It would also signal continuity in the strategic Indo-French defence relationship, a partnership considered cornerstone to India's maritime security strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
Naval sources emphasise that any such interim order would not replace the P-75(I) vision but rather ensure that India does not lose hard-won industrial capability while waiting for the advanced programme to materialise.
