India, France Fast-Track Talks on Three More Scorpene Submarines for Navy

India and France are moving to accelerate negotiations on the construction of three additional Kalvari-class submarines for the Indian Navy, according to reports on bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations.

The potential order would expand India’s submarine fleet beyond the six Scorpene-class vessels already contracted under a 2005 agreement with France. The Kalvari-class, based on the French Scorpene design, forms the backbone of India’s modern submarine capability and has been progressively inducted into service since 2015.

INS Kalvari, the lead boat of the class, was commissioned in December 2017 and established India’s indigenous submarine construction capability at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. Successive vessels including INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, and INS Vela have followed, with additional units in various stages of construction and sea trials. The class is equipped with advanced French combat management systems, diesel-electric propulsion, and heavyweight torpedoes, making them capable platforms for sustained underwater operations across the Indian Ocean region.

A three-boat follow-on order would represent a significant commitment to submarine force modernisation at a time when India faces multi-directional maritime challenges. The submarine arm remains chronically undersized relative to operational commitments, with the Indian Navy targeting a fleet of 24 submarines by 2030 against current strength hovering near 14 operational vessels.

France has positioned itself as a preferred partner in India’s submarine programme through consistent technology transfer and support for domestic production. The Scorpene platform choice in 2005 was itself landmark, establishing the template for India’s shift toward French naval architecture and systems integration. Fast-tracking new tranches would maintain production continuity at Mazagon Dock, sustaining skilled workforce availability and reducing per-unit production costs through economies of scale.

India’s broader submarine strategy includes parallel development of the indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Arihant class and the planned conventional Attack class submarines being developed by DRDO. However, the proven operational record and manufacturing maturity of the Scorpene design make additional units an efficient near-term capability addition.

Accelerated timelines also serve France’s strategic interests in deepening its role as a preferred defence technology partner to India, particularly as New Delhi evaluates future naval modernisation pathways. The move underscores the enduring utility of the 2008 India-France strategic partnership in translating bilateral political alignment into sustained military-industrial cooperation.