By Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — Only private shipyards will receive a tender to make six air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines if the Defence Ministry follows the recommendations of an expert committee, an MoD source said.
The US $12 billion tender will be sent to private yards Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering and Larsen & Toubro, the source said.
The Navy committee, headed by Vice Adm. A.V. Subhedar, controller of warship production and acquisition, also assessed state-owned Hindustan Shipyard and Mazagon Docks. He made his remarks during his first presentation to the MoD this month.
While the committee is expected to give its final recommendations to the MoD next month, the observations made by members during their presentation cannot be easily ignored by the MoD, the source said, because the Navy wants a time-bound delivery of submarines to add to its falling strength.
Read the full story at DefenseNews