DRDO unveils prototype of Air Independent Propulsion system for submarines
31 Oct 2019
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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday unveiled a programme to build a fuel cell-based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that would enhance the submerged endurance of diesel electric submarines and their lethality.
According to DRDO, the fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies, a defence ministry release stated, adding that the programme to build a fuel cell-based AIP system for Indian Naval Submarines has crossed several milestones in technology maturity.
DRDO on Wednesday demonstrated the operation of the land-based prototype engineered to the form-and-fit of a submarine, in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, G Satheesh Reddy at the Naval Materials Research Laboratory in Ambernath, Maharashtra.
The Naval Chief appreciated the breakthrough accomplishments achieved in this programme and said that the programme is of great value to the nation and Indian Navy in particular. He urged DRDO and Indian Navy to continue the partnership to meet the timelines set for short and long-term goals.
The DRDO chairman assured that all efforts will be made to meet the performance standards and timelines of the programme so that induction of DRDO AIP into operational submarines could be achieved as per Indian Navy schedule.
