British engineering giant Rolls-Royce is in talks with the Indian Navy to jointly develop India’s first electric warship. The initiative centers on integrating Rolls-Royce’s proven integrated full electric propulsion (IFEP) technologies into future Indian naval platforms. If realized, this would mark a significant leap in India’s indigenous naval capabilities and align with global trends toward cleaner and more efficient maritime power systems.
Strategic Shift Toward Integrated Electric Propulsion
The proposed collaboration centers around Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP), a system that replaces traditional mechanical drive shafts with an all-electric architecture. This allows for greater flexibility in ship design, improved acoustic signatures (critical for stealth), lower maintenance requirements, and better fuel efficiency.
At the heart of Rolls-Royce’s offering is the MT30 marine gas turbine—a compact but powerful engine derived from the Trent 800 aero engine family. The MT30 generates up to 36 MW of power and has already been adopted by several advanced navies including those of the United States (USS Zumwalt-class destroyers), United Kingdom (Type 26 frigates), South Korea (Daegu-class frigates), and Italy (Trieste-class LHD).
For India, adopting IFEP could enable future surface combatants—such as next-generation destroyers or large amphibious ships—to support high-energy weapons systems like directed energy weapons (DEWs) or advanced radar suites without compromising propulsion performance.
India’s Naval Electrification Ambitions
The Indian Navy has long emphasized indigenization under its “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. While India has made strides in conventional shipbuilding—with indigenous platforms like INS Vikrant (IAC-1) and Project-15B destroyers—it still relies heavily on foreign propulsion systems. A partnership with Rolls-Royce could bridge that gap by enabling local production of IFEP components under technology transfer agreements.
Speaking at a recent industry event in New Delhi, Kishore Jayaraman, President – India & South Asia at Rolls-Royce, confirmed discussions are underway to explore co-development opportunities. “We are looking at how we can work together on electrification of naval vessels,” he stated. “We have the technology; we want to bring it here.”
The timing aligns with India’s plans for its next-generation surface combatant programs—particularly Project-18 stealth destroyers—which are expected to feature modular open architecture designs suitable for IFEP integration.
Operational Advantages of Electric Warships
Electric propulsion offers multiple operational benefits across mission profiles:
- Stealth: Reduced acoustic signature improves survivability against submarines and passive sonar detection.
- Efficiency: Optimized fuel usage across variable speeds enhances endurance and reduces logistics burden.
- Modularity: Decoupling engines from shafts allows flexible internal layouts for sensors or weapons modules.
- Power availability: High onboard electrical output supports future DEWs or electromagnetic railguns.
- Sustainability: Lower emissions contribute to decarbonization goals in line with global naval trends.
Nations such as the UK have already demonstrated these advantages aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers—both powered by hybrid-electric systems incorporating MT30 turbines alongside diesel generators.
Challenges Ahead: Industrial Base & Technology Transfer
A key hurdle remains India’s industrial readiness to absorb high-end marine electrical propulsion technologies. While state-owned shipyards like Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Cochin Shipyard Ltd have experience integrating foreign propulsion packages, IFEP demands a deeper ecosystem—spanning high-voltage switchboards, power converters/inverters, advanced control software, and resilient cooling systems.
If Rolls-Royce proceeds beyond exploratory talks into formal agreements—possibly under India’s Strategic Partnership Model—it will likely involve joint development centers or local manufacturing through partnerships with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) or Larsen & Toubro’s defense division. Such arrangements would also require export clearances from UK authorities due to dual-use technology considerations inherent in military-grade gas turbines and power electronics.
A Global Trend Toward Electrification
The move toward electric warships reflects a broader transformation across major navies:
- U.S. Navy: USS Zumwalt-class uses an Integrated Power System (IPS) delivering up to ~78 MW total electrical power—enough for future laser weapons or railguns.
- Korean Navy: Daegu-class frigates combine MT30 turbines with hybrid-electric drive for anti-submarine warfare missions requiring low-noise operation.
- British Royal Navy: Type-26 Global Combat Ships use IFEP architecture optimized for quiet operations in contested waters.
- NATO Trends: Multiple members are investing in electrified platforms as part of climate resilience strategies within defense planning frameworks.
If India joins this cohort through indigenous adoption of IFEP technologies via Rolls-Royce collaboration, it would not only enhance capability but also position its defense industry within a cutting-edge global supply chain segment currently dominated by Western OEMs.
