India has finally kick-started its `mother of all underwater defence deals' after a 10-year delay . France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Spain and Japan are also joining in to build six advanced stealth submarines for an estimated Rs.70,000 crore in collaboration with an Indian shipyard.
This conventional submarine programme, Project-75 (India), languishing in politico-bureaucratic apathy since in November 2007, is likely to be the first mega project under the new `strategic partnership' policy of the defence ministry.
But it's early days yet. The six shipbuilders have to first respond to RFI (request for information), issued last week, by September 15.
The Navy will then formulate NSQRs (naval staff qualitative requirements) before the formal RFP (request for proposal) is issued to the six for submitting their technical and commercial bids. The Indian shipyard for the strategic partnership will be chosen in a parallel process.
It may take around two years for the original equipment manufacturer - Indian shipyard combine to be down-selected. Moreover, the first new submarine will be rolled out only seven to eight years after the final contract is inked.
The Navy wants the six new diesel-electric submarines to have land-attack cruise missiles, air-independent propulsion for greater underwater endurance, and the capability to integrate indigenous weapons and sensors as and when they are developed.
As per approved plans, the Navy should have 18 diesel-electric submarines as well as six nuclear-powered attack submarines (called SSNs) and four nuclear-powered submarines with long-range nuclear-tipped missiles (SSBNs) for effective deterrence against China and Pakistan.
The force is grappling with 13 conventional submarines, at least 10 of them are over 25 years old, apart from two nuclear-powered submarines, INS Arihant (SSBN) and INS Chakra (SSN).
The six French Scorpene diesel-electric submarines being built in Mazagon Docks under the Rs.23,652 crore Project-75 will all be delivered by 2021. But by then, many of the 13 existing submarines will be up for retirement.
This conventional submarine programme, Project-75 (India), languishing in politico-bureaucratic apathy since in November 2007, is likely to be the first mega project under the new `strategic partnership' policy of the defence ministry.
But it's early days yet. The six shipbuilders have to first respond to RFI (request for information), issued last week, by September 15.
The Navy will then formulate NSQRs (naval staff qualitative requirements) before the formal RFP (request for proposal) is issued to the six for submitting their technical and commercial bids. The Indian shipyard for the strategic partnership will be chosen in a parallel process.
It may take around two years for the original equipment manufacturer - Indian shipyard combine to be down-selected. Moreover, the first new submarine will be rolled out only seven to eight years after the final contract is inked.
The Navy wants the six new diesel-electric submarines to have land-attack cruise missiles, air-independent propulsion for greater underwater endurance, and the capability to integrate indigenous weapons and sensors as and when they are developed.
As per approved plans, the Navy should have 18 diesel-electric submarines as well as six nuclear-powered attack submarines (called SSNs) and four nuclear-powered submarines with long-range nuclear-tipped missiles (SSBNs) for effective deterrence against China and Pakistan.
The force is grappling with 13 conventional submarines, at least 10 of them are over 25 years old, apart from two nuclear-powered submarines, INS Arihant (SSBN) and INS Chakra (SSN).
The six French Scorpene diesel-electric submarines being built in Mazagon Docks under the Rs.23,652 crore Project-75 will all be delivered by 2021. But by then, many of the 13 existing submarines will be up for retirement.
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