Billed as a “key milestone” in enhancing India’s indigenous capability to maintain and sustain its Kalvari-class submarines, a first-of-its-kind facility for testing, maintenance and servicing of critical pneumatic systems has been commissioned at a technical workshop in Karwar of Karnataka.
Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar, the Chief of Materiel (COM), Indian Navy, commissioned the "pneumatic RAM test facility" at Naval Group India Workshop at Karwar, an official statement said.
The new facility, commissioned on March 13, will "enable testing, maintenance and servicing of critical pneumatic systems installed on Kalvari-class submarines, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of maintenance operations," the statement said.
ALSO READ: How Indian Navy is boosting its submarine hunting edge with 'Sea Dragon 2026'
This maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility is only available in France, Brazil and India. The facility has been developed and manufactured in collaboration with an Indian MSME partner, SEC Industries.
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. This would result in a longer turnaround timeline and higher logistical costs.
Vice Admiral Sivakumar 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," he said, according to news agency PTI.
