In a significant stride towards maritime self-reliance, India is set to commission its first indigenously built submarine rescue ship, marking a decisive shift from its decades-long reliance on Soviet-origin rescue support. This strategic platform is poised to enhance the Indian Navy’s underwater operational safety, operational flexibility, and capability to support submarine deployments in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
⚓ Why submarine rescue capability is critical
Submarine operations involve inherent risks, including machinery failures, flooding, or onboard fires that may immobilise a vessel underwater. A dedicated submarine rescue ship, equipped with Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), ensures:
✅ Rapid rescue operations in case of underwater emergencies
✅ Life support and decompression facilities for rescued crew
✅ Increased confidence in operational deployment of submarines
✅ Strategic deterrence capability by assuring crew safety
India has operated submarines since the 1960s but historically lacked an indigenous submarine rescue capability, depending on agreements with US and Russian navies for emergency support.
🛳️ About the new indigenous submarine rescue ship
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Ship name | Yet to be officially named |
| Built by | Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam |
| Length | ~120 metres |
| Displacement | Approx. 7,000 tonnes |
| Key equipment | Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), decompression chambers, diving support systems |
| Capacity | Can support rescue operations up to 650 metres depth |
| Technology partners | Indigenous integration with foreign technology inputs for DSRV operations |
The DSRV itself has been supplied by the UK’s James Fisher Defence under a contract signed in 2016, with full integration into the Indian Navy’s rescue protocols completed recently.
📈 Timeline: India’s submarine rescue capability evolution
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1967 | India commissions INS Kalvari, its first submarine; lacks rescue ship |
| 1971 | Indo-Pak war highlights submarine operational challenges |
| 1980s | Reliance on Soviet Navy rescue support continues |
| 2016 | Contract with James Fisher Defence for two DSRVs signed |
| 2018-19 | First DSRV inducted at Mumbai, second at Visakhapatnam |
| 2025 | Indigenous rescue ship with integrated DSRV set for operational debut |
🔧 Strategic implications of indigenous submarine rescue
- Enhanced maritime security autonomy
India will no longer depend on external rescue support, strengthening operational independence. - Boost to indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem
The project demonstrates capabilities of HSL and Indian private suppliers in building complex naval support platforms. - Support for expanding submarine fleet
India’s submarine arm, with the upcoming P75I conventional and SSN nuclear submarine programmes, requires robust rescue coverage. - Strengthened strategic deterrence
Assured rescue capability enhances confidence for longer and deeper deterrent patrols. - Regional humanitarian deployment
The rescue ship can assist friendly nations’ submarines under IOR naval cooperation frameworks.
🛠️ Key onboard systems of the new ship
✅ Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
✅ Launch and Recovery System (LARS) for DSRV operations
✅ Decompression chambers for rescued crew
✅ Diving bell and underwater tools for external repairs
✅ Dynamic positioning systems for precision station keeping
✅ Helipad for rapid crew evacuation
🔍 How does the DSRV operate?
The DSRV is a mini-submarine capable of diving up to 650 metres, docking with the distressed submarine’s escape hatch, and transferring up to 15-18 crew members per cycle to the surface support ship, where they undergo medical stabilisation and decompression if required.
🌏 Global submarine rescue collaborations
| Country | Rescue system | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS) | Operated by Navy Supervisor of Salvage |
| UK | NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) | Also supports France and Norway |
| Australia | Remora SRV | Capability upgraded under SEA1354 |
| China | LR7 system (UK origin, indigenised) | Integrated with Type 926 rescue ships |
| India | James Fisher DSRV + indigenous ship | First indigenous rescue ship debuting 2025 |
💬 Official and expert views
A senior Navy official said:
“Commissioning our own submarine rescue ship with integrated DSRV is a milestone in operational safety and a testament to Make in India defence capabilities.”
Defence analyst Commodore (retd) Anil Jai Singh added:
“This capability completes a critical operational gap. Indigenous build ensures rapid deployment for both eastern and western seaboard submarines.”
🔭 Future roadmap for India’s submarine support fleet
- Addition of a second indigenous submarine rescue ship by 2027
- Integration with upcoming nuclear submarine programmes
- Joint submarine rescue exercises with Quad navies and IOR partners
- Development of indigenous DSRV systems in long-term for full Atmanirbhar capability
📢 Recent related developments
- INS Shankush upgrade contract: Signed with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems for mid-life refit.
- P75I programme: Strategic partnership model for six advanced conventional submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) underway.
- SSN nuclear submarine programme: Cleared by CCS for building six nuclear attack submarines to counter Chinese presence in IOR.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This news article is based on official defence ministry briefings, naval statements, and open-source defence analyses. Readers are advised to await formal commissioning details from the Indian Navy for operational confirmation.
