Explained: Why are Air Independent Propulsion submarines significant for India

The prototype operation at the Naval Materials Research Laboratory in Ambernath, Maharashtra, is considered to give a boost to the DRDO’s plan to build AIP systems for Indian naval submarines.

Chief of Naval Staff Adm Karambir Singh witnessing operation of land-based prototype of DRDO India Air Independent Propulsion system at Naval Materials Research Laboratory in Ambernath, today. Also seen is Secretary, Dept of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G. Satheesh Reddy. (Source: Twitter/DRDO)

The DRDO on Wednesday tested a land-based prototype of an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) submarine. The prototype operation at the Naval Materials Research Laboratory in Ambernath, Maharashtra, is considered to give a boost to the DRDO’s plan to build AIP systems for Indian naval submarines. The land-based prototype was engineered to the form-and-fit of a submarine.