The Indian Navy has taken another big step in its empowerment. At present, the Navy has organized an important tender for 6 advanced submarines, in which an investment of approximately Rs 60,000 crore can be made for the development of these submarines. The Indian Navy has issued a tender to Indian shipyards Mazagon Dockyards Limited and Larsen & Toubro to build six submarines in partnership with foreign vendors.
Defense industry officials told ANI that the trials began in March this year when an Indian Navy team visited Kiel in Germany to view the Air Independent Propulsion system from German submarine maker ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The German company is partnering with the Indian Defense Ministry’s shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) for the mega tender.
MDL is the lead partner in the tender where the ship will have more than 60 percent indigenous content. Officials said the second phase of testing will be conducted in Spain where Spanish firms Navantia and Larsen & Toubro will demonstrate their AIP systems in late June. The Indian Navy stated that AIP was the most important requirement in its tender as it would allow the vessel to stay underwater for a long time. Besides, the Spanish firm will use Spanish Navy facilities for the Indian team, he said.
Spain’s Navantia and Larsen & Toubro had signed a teaming agreement (TA) to submit techno-commercial bids for the Indian Navy’s P75 (India) submarine program. Additionally, Project-75 (India) aims to procure diesel-electric attack submarines with fuel cells and air-independent propulsion systems (AIP) for the Indian Navy. Due to AIP, the boats will be larger and more advanced in capabilities than the existing boats.
The conduct of this tender is an important step towards the development plans of the Navy as well as to strengthen the security and defense of India. Additionally, it is an important plan to make India’s Navy an excellent strategic force.
