Russia to submit offer to India for P75I submarines

The modernisation of the Indian Navy is progressing and the country is spending a lot of money on it. The armed forces are now making a good impression not only above but also below the water. With the 2017 introduction of the Calvary-class, India has modern submarines. They are based on the French Scorpène-class, are 75 metres long and displace 1775 tonnes when submerged. With their diesel engines supplied by MTU, the boats can reach a speed of around 20 knots under water, with a maximum diving depth of 350 metres. The submarines are armed with six 533-millimetre torpedo tubes, from which SM 39 Exocet missiles can also be fired or mines laid. Three units of the class are already in service with the navy and three more are in the pipeline.

But India is not standing still and is thinking strategically about the future. A further six submarines are to be purchased as part of the follow-up project 75I. These will also be conventionally powered, but will be equipped with an air-independent propulsion system to improve their endurance under water. Technology transfer plays an important role in this construction project because, like the Calvary-boats, the 75I units are also to be built at domestic shipyards. However, India wants to draw on the knowledge and experience of foreign manufacturers for the construction. The Russian state export agency Rosoboronexport has reportedly received an invitation to submit a bid for this project. On the Indian side, the companies Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Larsen & Toubro are said to be involved in the tender. Already the Calvary-The keel for the new submarine of the 2nd class was laid at Mazagon, meaning that expertise in the construction of complex submarines is available there. India is said to have budgeted a total of around seven billion dollars for the six planned boats.

Text: mb; Photo: Naval Group