Project 77-class submarine

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Last edited April 6, 2026


For the conventional-attack submarine programme, see Project 75I-class submarine.

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Project 77 is an Indian Navy acquisition programme to procure nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Background[edit | edit source]

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Development[edit | edit source]

The Government of India, through the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), approved the construction of six nuclear attack submarines on 18 February 2015. Following the approval, the Naval Staff Qualitative Requirements (NSQR) are to be ascertained for the over 6,000 tonne-displacement submarines. These are to be built at the Ship Building Centre at Visakhapatnam.[1] On 8 December 2017, Navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, announced that the design for the class of six submarines had commenced at the newly commissioned Submarine Design Centre, Gurgaon. The project cost was estimated at ₹60,000 crore (equivalent to ₹680 billion or US$9.5 billion in 2019).[2] These will be designed by the Navy's in-house Directorate of Naval Design (now Warship Design Bureau). The construction was expected to commence on 2023–24 while the first submarine is expected to enter service in 2032.[3]

On 24 June 2019, it was reported that ₹100 crore (US$14 million) have been allocated for the initial phase of the project. The development is expected to continue till 2025. Mishra Dhatu Nigam is developing a new hull material that is expected to allow the submarine to dive to deeper depths than class. A scaled down model of the submarine is planned to be tested first. The total cost of the project is now estimated to be around ₹1 lakh crore (US$14 billion).[4]

In February 2020, The Economic Times reported that the preliminary design phase of the programme has been successfully completed. The report stated that Submarine Design Group of the Directorate of Naval Design, assisted by the DRDO, will now start working on the detailed design and construction phase of the programme.[5]

As of March 2021, it was reported that the Indian Navy has prioritised the construction of Project 75 Alpha submarines over a planned third aircraft carrier.[6] Later it was announced that initially, three submarines will be cleared in 2023-24 while the remaining three will get clearance later. The first boat was expected to roll out in 2032.[7][8] The ship class will have a final design clearance in Gurugram by Submarine Design Group, its nuclear reactor will be built in Kalpakkam, hull fabrication will be undertaken by Larsen & Toubro at Hazira and finally assembly and sea trials will be conducted by the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.[9]

As of August 2024, a report suggested that the first batch of P-75A class will have 2 submarines, while 4 more will be cleared in a later phase. The final clearance for the 1st batch worth ₹40,000 crore (US$5.6 billion) is expected to be received "soon" from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).[10][11]

On 9 October 2024, the CCS cleared the project at ₹40,000 crore (US$5.6 billion) to construct 2 nuclear attack submarines for the Indian Navy. The submarines shall be built at Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam and will include major private sector firms including Larsen & Toubro.[12] According to reports, the first submarine will take 10–12 years to be launched with a 190 MW pressurised light-water reactor and a displacement of almost 10,000-tonnes. The maximum speed will be over 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph). The submarines will feature an indigenous content of 95% and foreign assistance will include design consultancy only.[13][14][12]

During a press conference, the Indian Navy confirmed that it plans to operate 6 SSNs in total. The first of the initial two submarines is to be completed by 2036-37 followed by the next in 2038-39.[15][16][17] The submarines are anticipated to be equipped with DRDO-developed hypersonic missiles and an upgraded BrahMos, which might have a strike range of 1,500–2,000 kilometers.[18][19]

In September 2025, the Times of India reported that the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing a 200 MWe-rated nuclear reactor for the Indian Navy's next-generation nuclear submarines, including Project 77 and S5-class submarines.[20]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Government clears construction of 7 stealth frigates, 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines". The Economic Times. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Unnithan, Sandeep (10 December 2017). "A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "INS Arighaat: How a second nuclear submarine boosts India's strategic reach". India Today. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  4. ↑ Pubby, Manu (24 June 2019). "Work begins on India's next gen nuclear-powered submarines". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  5. ↑ Pubby, Manu (21 February 2020). "India's Rs 1.2 lakh crore nuclear submarine project closer to realisation". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  6. ↑ Gupta, Shishir (24 March 2021). "For Navy, 6 nuclear-powered submarines take priority over 3rd aircraft carrier". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Project-77 (formerly Project-75 Alpha): India may reduce number of SSN to 3, from planned 6 initially". IgMp. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  8. ↑ Pandit, Rajat (31 March 2021). "Project to build N-powered attack subs set to get CCS nod". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Unnithan, Sandeep (17 April 2021). "India's nuclear sharks". India Today. New Delhi. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "India 'fully ready' to add to fleet 2nd submarine with nuclear-tipped missiles". The Times of India. 11 August 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  11. ↑ "India set to commission its second nuclear-missile submarine". The Economic Times. 11 August 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Centre clears deal to build 2 nuclear submarines, purchase 31 predator drones". India Today. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "India clears two mega defence projects for 2 indigenous nuclear submarines & 31 Predator drones". The Times of India. 9 October 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Navy setting up base to control submarines on long-range patrols". The Times of India. 14 October 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Navy Chief Dinesh Kumar Tripathi: Deals for Rafale-M jets, three additional Scorpene submarines in advanced stages". The Hindu. 2 December 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  16. ↑ Philip, Snehesh Alex (2 December 2024). "Navy chief spells out mega nuclear attack submarine plan. Here's what it is". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  17. ↑ Peri, Dinakar (7 December 2024). "Indigenous nuclear attack submarine design to take 4-5 years, another five years for construction". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  18. ↑ Kumari, Khushboo (8 July 2025). "L&T in focus | India clears two nuclear-powered attack submarines armed with supersonic, hypersonic missiles". The Financial Express. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "Indian Navy Project-77 SSN to get 2,500 km range Hypersonic SLCM to expand its firepower". India's growing Military power - IgMp. 21 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Bhabha Atomic Research Centre making reactor for Navy's next-generation nuclear-submarines". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 September 2025.

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