Govt to float Rs 50K-cr global tender for Do Dubmarines

Govt to Float Rs 50K-cr Global Tender for Desi Submarines

Friday, 04 June 2021 | PNS | New Delhi

The Government is likely to float a global tender soon worth over Rs 50,000 crore for six submarines to be manufactured in India. This big-ticket deal is part of the ‘Make in India’ project and Strategic Partnership policy.

The proposed six- submarine deal known as Project-75 I is an add on to the six Scorpene submarines now under construction at the Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), Mumbai. The defence ministry is likely to firm up the formalities of the tender on Friday in the Defence Acquisition Council(DAC)meeting here, sources said on Thursday. The DAC chaired by the defence minister is the apex body clearing the deals.

The Strategic Partnership policy cleared five years back stipulates that sophisticated weapon systems like fighter jets, warships, submarines and helicopters should be manufactured by an

Indian defence manufacturer in collaboration with the foreign company or original equipment manufacturer(OEM).

The proposed Rs 50,000 crores deal is already running behind schedule as the Navy desperately needs modern conventional submarines as the existing fleet of 15-odd submarines is at the fag end of its operational life.

Incidentally, China has more than 45 submarines and is rapidly ramping up its maritime prowess by inducting aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines also. This poses a grave challenge to India as the Chinese are now flexing their muscle in the strategically important Indian Ocean region.

Conventional submarines are powered by diesel engines and at present the public sector Mazagon Docks Limited(MDL), Mumbai is building six Scorpene submarines with French collaboration.

Rechristened Kalvari, two submarines are now sea worthy while work is progressing on the remaining four.

The MDL and private sector company Larsen and Toubro are the Indian strategic partners for the proposed deal.

At least five global giants including French Naval Group, TKMS of Germany, Daewoo(South Korea), Navantia(Spain) and Russian Rosoborboexport are keen to bag the contract.

The navy plans to have at least 25 submarines in the next seven to ten years besides four nuclear powered submarines.

The indigenously designed and manufactured nuclear submarine Arihant is already sea worthy while the three more such submarines are under construction.

India has also procured one submarine on lease for ten years from Russia and plans to familiarise its officers and crew on this submarine and later shift them to the Indian submarines including Arihant.

Besides the Rs  50,000 crore submarine deal, the Navy is also going to kick start the project to procure 111 naval utility helicopters.

They will also come through the strategic partnership route and the deal is likely to cross the Rs 21,000 crore mark.

(Source : The Pioneer)