Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Technology

The AIP system is important for the Indian Navy to keep vessels underwater for longer periods and enable submarine fleet to have bigger vessels with more advanced capabilities.

1. Rs 60,000 crore contract to modernise the Indian Navy submarine fleet to build 6 stealth submarines equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, enabling prolonged underwater operations, has started with trials of competing teams at Mazgaon Docks, Mumbai.
2. The project 75 of the Indian Navy aims to procure diesel- electric attack submarines with fuel cells equipped with AIP technology to replace the aging fleet for new combat roles.

What is AIP?

What is Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)?

1. Submarine Enhancement: Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) is a technology that allows non-nuclear submarines to operate without needing to surface to access atmospheric oxygen.
2. Extended Underwater Endurance: Traditional diesel-electric submarines need to surface frequently to recharge their batteries using diesel engines (which require air). AIP extends submerged operation times from a few days to several weeks.
3. Stealth Advantage: Since AIP submarines can stay submerged longer, they are significantly harder to detect, giving them a tactical advantage.

Advantages of AIP

1. Increased Submerged Time: The primary benefit of AIP is dramatically increasing the time a submarine can stay underwater.
2. Enhanced Stealth: AIP reduces the need to surface, minimizing a submarine's vulnerability to detection.
3. Improved Operational Range: Longer underwater endurance allows AIP-equipped submarines to cover greater distances without surfacing.

Types of AIP:

1. Open-cycle systems
2. Closed-cycle diesel engines
3. Closed-cycle steam turbines
4. Stirling cycle engines
5. Fuel cells

DRDO's Fuel Cell-based AIP System:

1. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a unique fuel cell-based AIP system.
2. It generates hydrogen onboard, enabling endurance and maximum power modes as per user requirements.
3. Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of DRDO is responsible for developing this system.

Types of Submarines:

1. Conventional or Diesel-electric submarine: Requires atmospheric oxygen to run the diesel generator, which charges the batteries.
2. Nuclear Submarine: Powered by a nuclear reactor, not necessarily nuclear-armed. Offers significant performance advantages over conventional submarines.

Nuclear Submarines:

1. Nuclear submarines are naval vessels powered by nuclear reactors for propulsion.
2. They may or may not carry nuclear weapons.
3. The history of nuclear submarines dates back to the 1950s, with the US developing the first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, in 1954.
4. Subsequently, Russia, France, Britain, China, and India engaged in nuclear submarine technologies.

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