Finally, Indian Navy has cleared the decks for its long pending submarines construction project. This will clear all the hurdle for the P-75 India Submarines construction.
Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) led by Defence minister Rajnath Singh approved the ‘P-75 India’ project worth 43,000 crore (INR) approximately. DAC is the Defence Ministry’s highest decision-making body on procurement.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the make-in-India project named ‘P-75 India’ will be issued soon which will be in-turn issued to Defence Shipyard Mazagon Docks (MDL) and private ship-builder L&T.
Separate teams of the Defence Ministry and the Indian Navy has completed the groundwork-like specifications of the submarines and other critical requirements for issuance of the RFP for the project.
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Indian Navy has taken up the P-75 India Submarines construction project as an effort to counter China which on one hand is growing its Naval fleet in the Indian Ocean Region.
This mega project to build 6 new-gen stealth submarines with foreign collaboration. Also, P-75I will be the first project to be launched under the strategic partnership (SP) policy, “Make in India” platform.
The Navy is currently grappling with a fast-depleting underwater combat arm at a time when Chinese warships and submarines are making regular forays to the Indian Ocean Region.
India Neighbours – China and Pakistan Naval strength
China which has the World’s largest Navy consist of 350 warships which includes 50 conventional and 10 nuclear submarines. There are reports that China intends to make 420 warships by 2021 end.
Pakistan has got 8 Yuan-class diesel electric submarines with AIP, four Type-054A multi-role stealth frigates and other naval platforms and weapons from China.
Indian Navy Strength
India has till now inducted 3 of the 6 French-origin Scorpene.
India has 12 diesel-electric submarines which are very old. out of them 6 are just half operational at any given time. One submarine is slated to ready to retire by this year end.
INS Arihant and INS Chakra are the two nuclear-powered submarines for India presently.