P-75I Submarine Deal Progress
The deal for six advanced submarines has reached a key milestone with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Germany’s TKMS passing the technical evaluation by the Defence Ministry.
Larsen & Toubro and Spain’s Navantia’s bid did not clear the technical evaluation.
Indigenous Content Requirements
The Request For Proposal (RFP) specifies that the first submarine must have 45% indigenous content, increasing to 60% for the sixth submarine.
Key Technical Criterion - AIP Module
The Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module, which enhances endurance and stealth, is a critical requirement.
MDL-TKMS’s submarine design is based on the proven Class 214 and Class 212CD, with an operational AIP module.
Navantia has proposed the S80 class, with the first submarine commissioned in 2023.
Project-75I
It is a follow-up to Project 75 and improves upon the design and technology of its predecessor.
This project envisages indigenous construction of submarines equipped with the state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion system
Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30 year Plan for indigenous submarine construction.
It will be the first under the strategic partnership model which was promulgated in 2017 to boost indigenous defence manufacturing.
Indian Navy has completed the performance evaluation trials of the Spanish firm Navantia's offering for the navy's P-75I six new generation diesel-electric attack submarines.
In March 2024, the Navy completed trials of the offering from the second contender of the project, Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
Both TKMS and Navantia have partnered with Indian shipbuilders, Mazagaon Shipyard Limited (MDL) and Larsen and Toubro (L&T), where all six submarines will be built in India with transfer of technology (ToT)
The features of the project are:
Stealth Features: As with the 75 submarines, they are equipped with advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, long-range guided torpedoes, tube-launched anti-ship missiles, sonars, and sensor suites.
With the AIP technology, submarines use fuel cells that will enable them to stay submerged for up to two weeks.
Indigenisation: The first submarine must have a minimum of 45% indigenisation, with the indigenous content going up to 60% in the sixth.
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