In the last 24 hours India's Deccan Herald and other quality Indian news outlets have carried an important Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announcement. My comments are in [...] brackets.
India's MoD has issued the long anticipated request for information (RFI) to 6 submarine suppliers to participate in the construction of 6 advanced conventional diesel-electric submarines under the Project-75I (I for India). This will be a $9.5 Billion (so far) project.
Companies invited, via the RFI, to provide information are:
- France's Naval Group (formerly DCNS)
- Russia's Rosoboronexport
- Spain's Navantia
- Sweden's Saab
- Germany's TKMS, and
- Japan's MHI (which would include KHI).
Once India has declared a winner [India's is notorious for taking years of horse-trading to select major weapon systems - see [1]] the winner will need to:
- partner with an Indian company, and
- build the submarines in India [Australia has similar rules]
- [the winner will need to facilitate provision of air independent propulsion (AIP). Long discussed is
the winner being prepared to share the AIP technology with India's Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
- [also long discussed as a requirement is the fitting of a vertical launch systems (VLS) or at least the
ability to torpedo tube launch long range, land attack, cruise missiles]
For more information see the WHOLE DECCAN HERALD article.
COMMENT
India has for over a decade been conscious that its strategic competitors have been exceeding India's very slow submarine production (and purchasing) rate.
China has produced dozens of submarines in the last two decades with increasing numbers featuring the advantage of AIP. India has no AIP conventional submarines and India's submarines are mostly of less stealthy, old, designs.
Pakistan already has 3 AIP submarines and has ordered 8 submarines designed by China. These 8 will likely have AIP fitted or retrofitted.
It is not yet clear whether India wants average sized submarines (about 1,900 tonnes submerged) or is thinking of a larger, more capable, design.
[1] In terms of the glacial age of Project P-75I see the Submarine Matters' article of 2012.
Pete
India's MoD has issued the long anticipated request for information (RFI) to 6 submarine suppliers to participate in the construction of 6 advanced conventional diesel-electric submarines under the Project-75I (I for India). This will be a $9.5 Billion (so far) project.
Companies invited, via the RFI, to provide information are:
- France's Naval Group (formerly DCNS)
- Russia's Rosoboronexport
- Spain's Navantia
- Sweden's Saab
- Germany's TKMS, and
- Japan's MHI (which would include KHI).
Once India has declared a winner [India's is notorious for taking years of horse-trading to select major weapon systems - see [1]] the winner will need to:
- partner with an Indian company, and
- build the submarines in India [Australia has similar rules]
- [the winner will need to facilitate provision of air independent propulsion (AIP). Long discussed is
the winner being prepared to share the AIP technology with India's Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
- [also long discussed as a requirement is the fitting of a vertical launch systems (VLS) or at least the
ability to torpedo tube launch long range, land attack, cruise missiles]
For more information see the WHOLE DECCAN HERALD article.
COMMENT
India has for over a decade been conscious that its strategic competitors have been exceeding India's very slow submarine production (and purchasing) rate.
China has produced dozens of submarines in the last two decades with increasing numbers featuring the advantage of AIP. India has no AIP conventional submarines and India's submarines are mostly of less stealthy, old, designs.
Pakistan already has 3 AIP submarines and has ordered 8 submarines designed by China. These 8 will likely have AIP fitted or retrofitted.
It is not yet clear whether India wants average sized submarines (about 1,900 tonnes submerged) or is thinking of a larger, more capable, design.
[1] In terms of the glacial age of Project P-75I see the Submarine Matters' article of 2012.
Pete