The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) crossed an important milestone, when it demonstrated an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that will allow Indian Navy submarines to operate for up to two weeks without having to surface to recharge its batteries.
Context
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) crossed an important milestone, when it demonstrated an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that will allow Indian Navy submarines to operate for up to two weeks without having to surface to recharge its batteries.
About AIP Technology
- The AIP or marine propulsion technology allows non-nuclear submarines to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (through snorkel or surfacing) and augments the diesel-electric propulsion system of attack submarines.
- This means that the AIP fitted submarine does not have to surface for charging its batteries and remains underwater for long periods.
- The AIP is retrofitted into existing submarine hulls by adding an additional hull section. The AIP equipped submarines are identified as SSP while classic diesel attack submarines carry the SSK classification.
- Developed by: The system is being developed by the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of the DRDO with the support of industry partners L and T and Termax.
- The DRDO’s AIP technology is based on a Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell and the last two Kalvari class submarines will be powered by it.
MESMA, other type of AIP
- The other type of AIP in service is a relatively untried, French system called “Module d'Energie Sous-Marine Autonome (MESMA).
- The navy had the option to fit the MESMA AIP systems into the six Scorpene submarines that were contracted in 2005 under Project 75.
- However, sceptical about MESMA, the navy decided to put its faith in a conventional diesel-electric system for the Project 75 submarines.
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Importance of AIP
- Self-reliance: The development of AIP technology is a major boost for the AtmaNirbhar Bharat campaign since only the US, France, China, UK and Russia have this key technology.
- Un-interrupted performance: With an AIP system onboard, the submarine will have the potential to run its electric propulsion motor and electrical network, bypassing the traditional batteries.
- Lethal silence: While the nuclear submarine generates noise due to the ship’s reactor constantly pumping coolant to maintain temperatures of the engine, the AIP-equipped submarine maintains a lethal silence.
- Add to lethality of submarines: The new technology will add to lethality of Indian submarines, which also take advantage of internal refraction in equatorial waters due to differences in temperatures on the surface and within the ocean.
