On March 13th 2026, Naval Group India announced the commissioning of a Pneumatic RAM Test Facility at its technical workshop in Karwar by Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM, Chief of Materiel (COM) of the Indian Navy. in presence of senior management of Naval Group India along with other senior representatives from the Navy.
This maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility is only available in France, Brazil and India. The facility marks a key milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous capabilities for the maintenance and sustenance of the Kalvari-class submarines of the Indian Navy.
The newly commissioned Pneumatic RAM test facility will enable testing, maintenance and servicing of critical pneumatic systems installed on Kalvari-class submarines, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of maintenance operations.
Until now, these Pneumatic RAMs were required to be sent to France for testing and servicing, resulting in longer turnaround timelines and higher logistical costs.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM, Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy, said “The commissioning of this Pneumatic RAM test facility in India is an important step towards strengthening indigenous maintenance capabilities for our submarine fleet. Local availability of such specialised testing infrastructure will help reduce turnaround time, optimise costs, and further enhance the operational readiness of the Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class submarines.”
The facility has been developed and manufactured in collaboration with Indian MSME partner SEC Industries Pvt Ltd, reinforcing Naval Group’s commitment to strengthening the domestic industrial ecosystem and supporting the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in the defence sector.
Rear Admiral Rahul K Shrawat, AVSM (Retd), Chairman, Naval Group India, added “The establishment of this facility at Karwar reflects Naval Group India’s continued commitment to supporting the Indian Navy throughout the lifecycle of the Kalvari-class submarines. This is first of its kind in Asia-Pacific for Scorpene® submarines, and this bolsters the submarine MRO capabilities of Indian industry for the region.”
The Kalvari-class submarines, built under the P75 program in collaboration between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Naval Group, represent a major milestone in India’s submarine capability and the long-standing strategic partnership between India and France in naval defence.
Naval Group, a long-term partner of India
Naval Group is present in India through its 100% subsidiary Naval Group India. Established in September 2008, Naval Group India’s mission has been to support the indigenisation of equipment for Scorpene® submarine, to develop the Indian defence eco-system, as well as to develop design services in India with talented Indian engineers.
Naval Group India endeavours to implement the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and evolve as centre of excellence for support and maintenance of submarines by further empowering Indian industries and creating a robust eco-system that can cater to the varied defence needs of the country.
