Mumbai: First of the six Indian Navy’s Scorpene submarine under Project 75 was undocked at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL)Â on Mondaymorning by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
The diesel-electric powered Scorpene submarine will be called INS Kalvari would be commissioned into the Indian Navy in September 2016 after a series of extensive trials in decks as well as in sea while on surface and while dived.
India is building six Scorpene submarines with the help of French firm DCNS at MDL. The first Scorpene submarine was scheduled to be handed over in 2012.
In October 2005, the contract for ‘Project-75’ was awarded to French defence giant DCNS to build six Franco-Spanish Scorpene-class diesel attack submarines at MDL. The deal involved extensive technology transfer agreements.
Even though French blame the Indian side for the delay, Parrikar has said the delay is “mainly” due to difficulties in procuring material from foreign vendors.
Parrikar has asked all the defence Public Sector Undertakings to double the production.
Parrikar said the shipyard has undertaken augmentation of the manpower, infrastructure and industrial means in a phased manner to meet the production target and that the production capabilities have also been augmented.
The visit also assumes significance as MDL would be one of the contenders for the P-75I project under which India plans to indigenously develop six more submarines.
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