After being stuck for over six months, the Indian government has given a green signal to the Defence Ministry and Mazagaon Dockyards Limited to start the negotiations for the deal to buy six submarines to be built in India with German support under 'Project 75 India', under Rs 70,000 crore budget.
The Defence Ministry had selected state-owned MDL for building six submarines with Air Independent Propulsion systems with German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems as its partner in January.
Speaking on the same, the Defence officials said, "The Centre has now given clearance to the Defence Ministry and the MDL to begin negotiations for the project, and the process is expected to start by the end of this month."
The Government of India made the decision after discussing with high-level officials, including the top defence and national security functionaries, who discussed the roadmap and future of the country's submarine fleet, they said.
The Defence Ministry and the Indian Navy are expecting to conclude contract negotiations in the next six months and get final approval for it. Through the contract, the Defence Ministry aims to develop an indigenous capability for designing and manufacturing conventional submarines within the country. Not only this, but the Centre is also exploring ways to accelerate the submarine building process.
The Indian Navy is looking to buy six advanced submarines with the ability to stay underwater for three weeks under Project 75 India, and the German AIP would allow it to do so. The Indian industry is also working on building two nuclear attack submarines, where private sector giant Larsen and Toubro would play a big role, along with the Submarine Building Centre. Against the backdrop of the rapid modernisation of the Chinese Navy, the Indian government has cleared numerous submarine projects, including both nuclear and conventional ones.
However, India must rapidly develop the desired capabilities to counter both China and Pakistan in its area of interest. The Indian Navy is likely to phase out around 10 of its submarines in the next 10 years and would require their replacements in the same period.
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