On 13 March 2026, Naval Group India announced the commissioning of a Pneumatic RAM Test Facility at its technical workshop in Karwar by chief of materiel (COM), Indian Navy Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar 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 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.”

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 in the defence sector.

Chairman, Naval Group India, Rear Admiral Rahul K Shrawat (retd) 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.”