India to get 6 new submarines for Rs 400 bn

Unlike conventional subs that must surface every 48 to 72 hours, these subs can stay submerged for up to 14 days.
Ajai Shukla reports.

The ministry of defence on Thursday, January 31, cleared the procurement of 6 advanced submarines for 'over Rs 40,000 crore' (Rs 400 billion). This acquisition, codenamed Project 75-I, has been in the pipeline for a decade.

The 6 submarines will have 'air independent propulsion', which will allow them to remain submerged for up to 14 days, during which it is difficult to detect them. Conventional diesel-electric submarines must surface every 48 to 72 hours to charge their batteries, when they become vulnerable to detection.

'This is the second project under the MoD's ambitious Strategic Partnership model that envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian SP who will collaborate with a foreign original equipment manufacturerto set up production facilities in the country,' stated the MoD.

'Today's Defence Acquisition Council approval would be the second such (SP model) project following indigenous production of 111 naval utility helicopters that was approved in August 2018,' the MoD pointed out.

In 2017, the navy sent out 'requests for information' to a number of global OEMs, soliciting interest in Project 75-I. The navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, stated in December 2017 that four vendors had come forward: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems from Germany, Kockums from Sweden, Naval Group from France and Rosoboronexport from Russia.

This has opened the door for a two-track process: Floating a global tender to select the OEM, while simultaneously going ahead with shortlisting prospective Indian SP firms. Once that is done, the SPs will bid in partnership with their chosen OEMs.

The selection and contracting process and the actual building of 6 submarines could take another decade.

Meanwhile, the navy will make do with a depleted conventional submarine fleet that consists of 9 Russian-origin Kilo-class vessels; 4 German-origin HDW boats; 6 French-origin Scorpene submarines being built by Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai.

In addition, the Indian Navy operates one Akula-class nuclear submarine leased from Russia, and plans to build 6 indigenous nuclear attack submarines.

There will also be 4 to 6 Arihant-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines. These will be a part of India's nuclear deterrent, with no role in conventional naval warfighting.