India’s Submarine Gap: Three Kilos Face Scrapyard as New Fleet Stalls

The Indian Navy is preparing to phase out up to three of its remaining Kilo-class submarines within the next five years, a decision driven by rising maintenance costs and the advanced age of these vessels. Originally acquired from Russia between the late 1980s and early 2000s, the fleet has already seen four of its ten submarines retired in recent years. If the current plan proceeds, only three Kilo-class submarines will remain operational, potentially reducing India’s conventional submarine strength before replacements arrive.

The six remaining Kilo-class submarines, designated Project 877EKM, are among the oldest in the Navy’s inventory, with some approaching 35 years of service. While upgrades have been implemented—including modern sonars, electronic warfare systems, and Club-S cruise missiles—their core hull design remains unchanged since their introduction over four decades ago. Maintenance has become increasingly difficult, with spare parts harder to procure and overhaul expenses rising sharply.

Russia has proposed a stopgap solution, offering three refurbished Kilo-class submarines equipped with newer weapons. However, these vessels have already served more than 25 years, and the Indian Navy has reportedly rejected the offer, questioning their long-term viability in combat.

The Challenges of an Ageing Fleet: kilo-class submarines

The Navy’s long-term replacement plan, Project-75(I), aims to introduce six new conventional submarines with advanced stealth and air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology. However, the first of these vessels is not expected to enter service before the early 2030s, leaving a potential gap in operational capability. German shipbuilder TKMS is among the companies involved in the project, but contract negotiations and construction timelines remain uncertain.

With no immediate replacements available, the Navy faces a difficult choice: continue investing in ageing submarines at escalating costs or accept a temporary reduction in fleet size while awaiting new vessels.

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