Indian submarine programme is left in tatters
The Indian Navy launched its sixth and final Scorpene-based submarine, the future INS Vagsheer, on 20 April. (Indian Navy)
France’s Naval Group will not be participating in India’s P75I submarine tender, opening the spectre of the MoD having to go back to square one.
Even before the last Scorpene submarine for India – known as the Kalvari class – entered service, the French firm Naval Group has opted to pull out from the next estimated INR430 billion ($5.6 billion) phase of India’s submarine-building programme.
The Indian Navy (IN) is seeking six Indian-manufactured Project 75I submarines that employ air-independent propulsion (AIP). This is the first time India has sought AIP-equipped submarines, but it has proved a step too far for Naval Group.
‘Due to certain conditions in the RfP, the two strategic partners could not forward the request to us and a few other FOEMs
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