India likely to scrap French Scorpene project, may go for German-origin subs

NEW DELHI: India may scrap the proposed project to build another three French-origin Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Docks (MDL), while it goes full steam ahead with the plan to construct six new German-origin diesel-electric stealth submarines at the same facility for over Rs 70,000 crore.

The plan for the three additional Scorpene submarines, which would have cost around Rs 36,000 crore, "is not being pursued now" though the "final decision to scrap it has not yet been taken in black and white", top government sources told TOI. While cost negotiations for the three Scorpenes concluded in the last fiscal itself, the final nod from the PM-led Cabinet Committee on Security is "on hold" because the German submarines are considered "a generation ahead" of them, the sources added.

Mazagon to build German subs under 'Project-75 India'

Moreover, it would be difficult for Mazagon Docks (MDL) to handle two different complex submarine-building projects simultaneously," a source said. The three new Scorpenes were to add to the six such submarines already built at MDL under the over Rs 23,000-crore 'Project-75', which was inked way back in October 2005.



The first, INS Kalvari, was commissioned in Dec 2017 after much delay and the sixth, INS Vagsheer, in Jan this year. However, all six Kalvari-class submarines will be retrofitted with the air-independent propulsion (AIP) system being developed by DRDO for greater underwater endurance.

The AIP system gives a diesel-electric submarine the stealth capability to remain underwater for around two weeks, while a boat without it must surface or 'snorkel' every couple of days for oxygen to recharge its batteries.

The German submarines to be constructed at MDL under 'Project-75India (P-75I)', in partnership with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems , will have AIP, land-attack cruise missiles and other new-generation technologies.

The decision to take forward the final techno-commercial negotiations for the six German submarines - with the option for another three of them at a later stage - was made after extensive deliberations among the defence ministry, Navy, National Security Council Secretariat and others, the sources said.

Consequently, the official contract talks for MDL to build the German submarines began last month. "These new-generation boats under P-75I will come with design ToT (transfer of technology) and a greater indigenisation level of around 60%. The project will serve as a bridge to the future P-76, under which conventional submarines will be constructed based on totally indigenous design," another source said.

However, considering France's expansive strategic ties with India, the project for three more Scorpenes could still be revived if there is top-level intervention.

The sources, on their part, said France should be pleased that it is on course to bag several other major projects.