New Delhi: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Naval Group have discussed the next phase of their submarine cooperation at Euronaval 2026, according to reports. The meeting’s reported focus is significant for a partnership that has already delivered six Indian Kalvari-class submarines, based on Naval Group’s Scorpène design and built at MDL’s Mumbai yard.
The report does not specify what proposals were discussed, whether any agreement was signed, or whether the talks concerned a particular procurement. The discussion should therefore be viewed as an indication of continued engagement, not as confirmation of a new submarine contract. Euronaval, the international naval defence exhibition taking place in Paris from 3 to 6 November, brings together industry, military and government representatives.
The existing cooperation was established under India’s Project 75. MDL constructed the six submarines with technology transfer from Naval Group; the last, Vagsheer, was launched in 2022 and commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 2025. Naval Group has described the programme as a major example of Indian construction and industrial participation, supported by a network of local suppliers.
The programme’s next phase could involve sustaining and upgrading the submarines already in service, or potentially expanding the fleet – but the reported Euronaval discussion does not establish either outcome. One active area of cooperation is the planned integration of an indigenous air-independent propulsion (AIP) system into the Kalvari-class boats. AIP is intended to allow a conventional submarine to remain submerged longer without needing to surface to recharge its batteries. The work is tied to India’s broader effort to strengthen domestic design and production capabilities.
A separate proposal for additional Scorpène submarines has also kept the partnership in focus. Recent reporting has described a possible follow-on order for three boats, but the proposal’s status and final terms remain subject to government decisions. The Euronaval report does not say the meeting addressed this proposal or indicate that approval has been granted.
The talks take place as India pursues multiple submarine programmes and partnerships. In Project 75(I), MDL is paired with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for a separate next-generation submarine proposal. That process is distinct from MDL’s established Scorpène collaboration with Naval Group: the former concerns a new design and procurement, while the latter is rooted in the six Project 75 submarines and their support and upgrade requirements.
For MDL, sustained submarine work would build on expertise gained in hull construction, systems integration and coordination with Indian suppliers. For Naval Group, ongoing engagement could preserve a role in India’s conventional submarine fleet after completion of the original six-boat series. Any future work, however, would depend on formal approvals, commercial negotiations and clearly defined technical requirements.
Naval Group’s Euronaval programme is presenting the Scorpène as a multi-mission conventional submarine, alongside technologies addressing evolving naval operations. The exhibition’s 2026 theme is “Towards high intensity”, with the event showcasing equipment and systems across areas including autonomous platforms, cyber defence and combat systems.
The meeting’s practical significance will become clearer only if the companies or the Indian government disclose concrete next steps. For now, the reported discussion signals that MDL and Naval Group remain in contact as India weighs submarine upgrades, industrial continuity and longer-term fleet requirements.
