Air Independent Propulsion 

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The Defence Research Development Organisation recently achieved a milestone in the development of the Air Independent Propulsion system. The system was operated in endurance mode and max power mode. The operation was successful.

Key Points:

• The Air Independent Propulsion System is being developed by the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of DRDO.

• Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) has a force multiplier effect on the lethality of a diesel-electric submarine as it enhances the submerged endurance of the boat, several folds.

• Fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies.

• Operation of the land-based prototype engineered to the form-and-fit of a submarine

• In a fuel cell AIP, an electrolytic fuel cell releases energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with only water as the waste product.

• The cells are highly efficient and do not have moving parts, thus ensuring that the submarine has a low acoustic signature.