India’s Defence Minister Reviews Submarine Project

: Sep 4, 2014 - : 8:45 am

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India's Defence Minister Arun Jaitley recently reviewed the ongoing Project 75 (Indigenous submarine construction project) as well as the other ongoing warship building projects including P-15 B class stealth destroyers at Mazagon Docks (MDL) in Mumbai. The visit of the defence minister, within 3 months of taking over amply demonstrates the importance being accorded by the government to the indigenous construction of submarines and warships. During his visit the defence minister inaugurated the Mazdock Modernisation Project (MMP), which would significantly enhance the warship and submarine construction capability of the shipyard. Haskoning Nederland B.V. (HNBV), world renowned consultants in the field of marine construction, were appointed as consultant for this project. The major components created under MMP include a new Wet basin with level luffing cranes, 300-Ton Goliath Crane, Module Workshop, Stores Building, Shipyard transporter and Cradle & Assembly shop at a cost of Rs. 800 Crores approx. It may be recalled that Project 75 submarine construction project is a very important project for the country and Indian Navy. 06 state-of-the-art submarines fitted with latest equipment are being built at MDL, Mumbai under collaboration with M/s DCNS France, giving a massive boost to the indigenous submarine construction capability of the country. With all the impediments & material hurdles resolved, the construction of the submarines is progressing on schedule to meet the planned delivery schedule of Sep 2016. Presently, first three submarines of the project are in outfitting phase, and the systems of the first submarine are being ‘Set to Work’. The Project is being reviewed at regular intervals at all levels at Naval Headquarters and Ministry of Defence (MoD) to gear up for the launch of the first submarine in Sep 2015. Preparations to induct these submarines are in progress and the selected crew has commenced training. The submarines will be initially based at Mumbai and shifted to operational base at Karwar after completion of trials. Necessary impetus is also being given by the government to create associated shore support facilities as per the Long Term Infrastructure Perspective Plan (LTIPP). The Navy is down to just 13 ageing diesel-electric submarines, only half of them operational at any given time due to life-extension refits, and a single nuclear-powered submarine leased from Russia. To make matters worse, while a submarine's prescribed operational life is around 25 years, 11 of the 13 conventional vessels are already 20-27 years old. The last time a BJP-led government was in power, its Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved India's 30-year submarine building plan in July 1999. Under it, 12 new submarines were to be constructed with foreign collaboration by 2012, while another dozen were to be "built to indigenous design" in the 2012-2030 timeframe.