In a move to bolster the Indian Navy capabilities amid growing tension with China, the Government is set to launch the bidding process for ₹55,000 crore mega project to build six conventional submarines by October via Request of Proposal (RFP) route, reported in Economic Times.
Code-named project ‘P-75 I’, it will be the first big defence project executed under the government’s strategic partnership model. Under this model, qualifying domestic companies will be joining hands with qualifying foreign defence majors to produce high-end military platforms. This will help India reduce import dependence on critical weapons platforms.
Private-sector conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) which is already involved in defence and the state-owned Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL) have already qualified all benchmarks. Qualified foreign defence majors include ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems of Germany, Navantia of Spain and Naval Group of France.
“The construction of six submarines under Project 75(I) will provide a major boost to the existing submarine design and manufacturing eco-system in India through transfer of design and equipment technology as well as necessary skill sets,” a Defence Ministry spokesman said.
Unde the project 75(I), Indian Navy intends to acquire six diesel-electric submarines with advanced air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems that will increase their operational range.
Indian Navy has plans to operate 24 submarines, including six nuclear attack submarines because they are major force multipliers and perhaps the best weapons platform for deterrence. At present, the navy has a fleet of 15 conventional and two nuclear submarines.