India has successfully demonstrated that it now has a home grown Air Independent Propulsion or AIP system that adds significant stealth to conventional submarines, greatly enhancing operational effectiveness. Under development by DRDO for the next generation of diesel electric submarines, the AIP has undergone extensive trails that have now demonstrated that it can be used for underwater operations in excess of two weeks. The system was developed in partnership with private sector players L & T and Thermax. “DRDO has achieved an important milestone in the development of AIP System by proving the land based prototype on 8 March 2021. The plant was operated in endurance mode and max power mode as per the user requirements,” an official statement read. Sources told that the land based prototype is now ready for integration with submarines, with the first project possibly to upgrade the current line of Scorpene boats that have entered service.
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