Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) has announced that the Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth Rs 1,990 crore for the construction of an air independent propulsion (AIP) plug for AIP system and its integration into conventional submarines. This initiative aims to enhance the endurance of conventional submarines by incorporating indigenously developed AIP technology by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

This technology aims to reduce reliance on oxygen-dependant propulsion, providing submarines with extended submerged endurance. Moreover, the project is expected to generate substantial employment, with an estimated creation of three lakh man-days of labour. 

MDL's involvement in the development and integration of AIP systems reinforces the company’s role in bolstering India’s naval defense capabilities and its commitment to self-sufficiency in defense technology. MDL emphasised its dedication to advancing India's maritime defense sector and reiterated its alignment with the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" vision, supported through indigenous innovation and manufacturing.