8.4.15

INS Kalavari


Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar launched the first indigenously-built Scorpene submarine ­ INS Kalavari at the Mazagaon Dockyard in Mumbai. The Scorpene is part of the ambitious Project 75 of Indian Navy's submarine programme, undertaken with French collaboration, which will include six such vessels joining the fleet over the next few years.
Blaming the previous UPA government for the delay Parrikar accused it of not being 'serious' about defence projects
Six Scorpene submarines are being built at Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), with the help of French firm DCNS. Though the first Scorpene submarine was scheduled to be handed over in 2012, the revised dates are now September 2016.
Presently, Indian Navy has 14 conventional diesel-electric powered submarines which include 10 Russian Kilo Class and four German HDW class vessels. Parikkar is in the city to review the progress of Project 75 programme undertaken by the Western Naval Command and is likely to get a status report on the Project 15 B-Class stealth destroyers being constructed at MDL.
In October 2005, the contract for 'Project-75' was awarded to French defence giant DCNS to build six FrancoSpanish 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 had earlier said the delay is “mainly“ due to difficulties in procuring material from foreign vendors.

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