Selection of shipyards next on agenda for building of subs
28 Oct 2014 6:03 AM IST
After clearing the construction of six submarines, codenamed P-75I, the Ministry of Defence will soon form a committee to select shipyards that would be building them. Considering that inspections in these yards have taken place a number of times earlier, industry insiders say that the ministry is likely to select both the private shipyards, Pipavav and Larsen and Toubro, and the two public sector yards, Mazagon Docks Ltd (MDL) and Hindustan Shipyard (HSL).
Following this, the request for proposal (RFP) will be sought that will indicate essentially two important items – the technology for air independent propulsion (AIP) and the missile to be carried on board the new subs. This will also guide the selection of the foreign joint venture partners.
Five international shipyards are in the fray — German giant HDW with their type 214 subs, French DCNS with Scorpene (type already being built in MDL), Spain’s Navantia with their SAT type and the Russians with their Amur class.
The fifth is SAAB, with their new acquisition Kockums that has the A-26 type could also be in line for selection this time. Earlier, Kockums was with HDW and were told that they could not compete as type 214 was being pitted. But with Swedish SAAB acquiring from the line from the Germans, Kockums could make a comeback as another choice.
Amongst these, Navantia is already facing serious problems with their SAT type; while DCNS is not in any great favour either with the government or the Indian Navy, sources say. Of course, considering the huge amount of money involved in building these submarines, estimated to be Rs 53,000 crores (or $ 8.7 billion), the competition is expected to be keen and tough.
The RFP will also surely talk about full technology transfer, sources say, and this order could lead to more indigenously built subs, thus making it profitable to create the infrastructure for building them. In reality, the IN is scraping the bottom of the barrel with its sub fleet, so there is an urgent need for subs in sufficient numbers.
Sources speculate that there could be a demand to break-down the order six to two batches of three each as all the Indian shipyards will vie for it. As it is, MDL has its hands full and Larsen and Toubro consider themselves having mastered submarine building while working on the second nuclear sub of the country.
But Pipavav also has been making a tenacious attempt to align itself with the requirements of the IN and the ministry in terms of sub building. This keeps them as one of the potential contenders for the project.
Following this, the request for proposal (RFP) will be sought that will indicate essentially two important items – the technology for air independent propulsion (AIP) and the missile to be carried on board the new subs. This will also guide the selection of the foreign joint venture partners.
Five international shipyards are in the fray — German giant HDW with their type 214 subs, French DCNS with Scorpene (type already being built in MDL), Spain’s Navantia with their SAT type and the Russians with their Amur class.
The fifth is SAAB, with their new acquisition Kockums that has the A-26 type could also be in line for selection this time. Earlier, Kockums was with HDW and were told that they could not compete as type 214 was being pitted. But with Swedish SAAB acquiring from the line from the Germans, Kockums could make a comeback as another choice.
Amongst these, Navantia is already facing serious problems with their SAT type; while DCNS is not in any great favour either with the government or the Indian Navy, sources say. Of course, considering the huge amount of money involved in building these submarines, estimated to be Rs 53,000 crores (or $ 8.7 billion), the competition is expected to be keen and tough.
The RFP will also surely talk about full technology transfer, sources say, and this order could lead to more indigenously built subs, thus making it profitable to create the infrastructure for building them. In reality, the IN is scraping the bottom of the barrel with its sub fleet, so there is an urgent need for subs in sufficient numbers.
Sources speculate that there could be a demand to break-down the order six to two batches of three each as all the Indian shipyards will vie for it. As it is, MDL has its hands full and Larsen and Toubro consider themselves having mastered submarine building while working on the second nuclear sub of the country.
But Pipavav also has been making a tenacious attempt to align itself with the requirements of the IN and the ministry in terms of sub building. This keeps them as one of the potential contenders for the project.
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