Project 75(I) gets going; India begins hunt for partners to build six submarines worth Rs 43,000 crore

Project-75(I) envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines with contemporary equipment, weapons and sensors, including fuel-cell based AIP, advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state-of-the-art countermeasure systems. 

Moving a step further in realising the 'Make-in-India' vision, the government on Tuesday issued a Request of Proposal for the first acquisition programme under the Strategic Partnership Model to construct six Air Independent Propulsion System-fitted conventional submarines named Project 75 (India) for the Indian Navy.

The RFP was issued to shortlisted Strategic Partners or Indian Applicant Companies for the project, viz, Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The project cost is around Rs 43,000 crore. 

Project-75(I) envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines (including associated shore support, Engineering Support Package, training and spares package) with contemporary equipment, weapons and sensors, including fuel-cell based AIP, advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state-of-the-art countermeasure systems. 

"This would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project," an official said.

The shortlisted SPs would be collaborating with any of the shortlisted foreign original equipment manufacturers -- Naval Group-France, TKMS-Germany, JSC ROE-Russia, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co Ltd-South Korea and Navantia-Spain. The foreign OEMs will be the technology partner in the SP Model. 

Foreign OEMs will enable SP to construct submarines, achieve high levels of indigenisation, and transfer technology for various technologies. 

Earlier this month, the Defence Acquisition Council, in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had approved the issue of RFP for the construction of six conventional submarines.

This is one of the largest 'Make in India' projects and will serve to facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology and create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India.