64,000-crore submarine project creates big buzz

QUEPEM (GOA): A Rs 64,000-crore project to build high-tech submarines in the country has created a buzz at a military systems’ exhibition here, with foreign manufacturers eyeing alliances with domestic shipyards in hopes of kicking off one of the costliest projects under the Make in India programme.

Six advanced submarines will be built under project P-75I to scale up the Navy’s undersea warfare capabilities and counter the swift expansion of China’s submarine fleet.

Russia, one of the competitors for the project, on Tuesday said it had begun its homework on the project aimed at building a second line of submarines in India.

“Negotiations are on... we are working on different proposals. We are open to cooperating with both public and private sector yards under the Make in India plan,” said Vladimir Drozhzhov, who heads military technical cooperation for Rostec Corporation.

Five Indian shipyards shortlisted by a top government committee for the project are Mazagon Dock Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Cochin Shipyard Limited and private sector yards Pipavav and Larsen & Toubro.

Ger man conglomerate Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has offered India its HDW Class 214 submarine. “It’s a very sig- nificant project for us. The Class 214 is a proven platform and we are ready to transfer critical technology on which we have spent a lot of money,” Thyssenkrupp managing director Gurnad Singh Sodhi said at DefExpo-2016.

Foreign vendors are waiting for the defence ministry to release its policy on “strategic partners” to allow joint ventures with local firms for building warplanes, advanced submarines and helicopters.

The new submarines will have the capability to operate underwater for several weeks with airindependent propulsion systems, greater strike power against land targets and improved stealth features that make them harder to detect.