News Report: India’s First Scorpene Submarine to Join Naval Fleet from Next Month

INS Kalvari during sea trials

The 1565-ton Scorpene class submarine is a critical asset in a war like situation with Pakistan as the shallow Arabian Sea does not provide required depth to the larger boats like the Kilo-class, or the six nuclear-powered attack submarines that India plans to build.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be handing over India’s first locally built Submarine – christened INS Kalvari — to the Indian Navy next month. The much-awaited diesel-electric Scorpene class submarine is the first of the six such submarines being built at Indian shipyard with the technical support of French naval shipbuilding firm Naval Group, earlier known as DCNS. The submarine would be sent to the Indian Ocean on operational deployment soon after it is handed over to the Indian Navy. However, it would be some time before the vessel is fitted with torpedoes – its primary weapon.

The boat was scheduled to serve the Indian Navy from 2012; seven years after signing of the deal. However, the Indian firm MDL’s ineptness in absorbing the technology transferred by Naval Group delayed the project by five years, according to sources.

News Report: 25% Equity of India’s Public Defense Firms Up for Sale

The divestment is part of Narendra Modi Government's ambitious plan to enhance India’s defense manufacturing capability.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — In an unprecedented move, the Indian Government has decided to divest up to 25% equity stake in four state-run defense companies. The government is looking to sell stakes in Mazagon Dock Ltd, Bharat Dynamics Ltd, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd. It has invited proposals for the IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) on domestic stock market by 3 pm on August 18. The companies are mainly specialise in ship building and missile manufacturing.

The Narendra Modi-led government had given its initial nod to the proposal for divestment of four out of nine government-owned defense firms in April this year.

This divestment is being considered as the first step towards privatization of these companies to augment the defense manufacturing capability to achieve defense exports worth $2 billion and absorb work orders for $15 billion in offsets for foreign defense imports.

News Story: Indian Navy formally launches submarine acquisition program

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — The Indian Navy has issued a request for information for six air-independent propulsion-enabled submarines under Project 75I, a program worth more than $12 billion. However, analysts say the process will take time since the purchase would take place under the new Strategic Parters policy.

The RFI was issued to six foreign shipyards, including Rubin Design Bureau of Russia, Naval Group (formerly DCNS) of France, Navantia of Spain, Saab of Sweden, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan and ThyssenKrupp of Germany, eliciting a response on AIP-enabled submarine capabilities.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a surprise addition, according to an Indian Ministry of Defence official, because Japanese submarines can be expensive.

Once the overseas shipyards respond to the RFI, a formal request for proposal will be issued. Based on the RFP responses, the MoD will shortlist the shipyards, which could take a minimum of two years, the MoD official said.

A strategic partner will be selected from domestic shipyards, and the companies will join to compete for the project under the Strategic Partners policy

“As per the policy document, the overseas shipyards would be shortlisted based on range, depth and scope of technology transfer offered in identified areas, extent of indigenous content proposed [and] extent of ecosystem of Indian vendors/manufacturers,” said Jayant Damodar Patil, the head of Larsen & Toubro’s defense and aerospace division.

”MoD would short list three to four overseas shipyards from amongst the six based on the above criterion,” Patil added.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Russia, Germany in Race for Indian Navy's $7.8 Billion Submarine Tender

INS Kalvari first of the P-75 Submarines built by MDL

India’s Ministry of Defense has asked six foreign shipbuilders to respond to the Indian Navy’s long-delayed Project 75 India (P-75I) program, which is worth over $7.8 billion.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The request for information (RFI) has been sent to six selected overseas naval shipbuilders asking for details about locally building six diesel-electric submarines under newly-formulated strategic partnership model under which India’s private defense shipbuilder will collaborate with a foreign manufacturer.

Official sources told Sputnik that Indian Navy had issued RFI on July 19 to Russia’s Rosoboronexport Rubin Design Bureau, France’s Naval Group, Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Spain’s Navantia, and Sweden’s Saab.

Companies will have to respond to the Indian Navy’s request by September 15 this year with operational details of their respective submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems and anti-surface, anti-submarine and land-attack capabilities.

News Report: Indian Navy Readies To Select Firms Specializing In Warships, Submarines

 Indian Scorpene class submarine: INS Kalvari

In a bid to strengthen domestic naval manufacturing capabilities, the Indian Navy has come up with a maritime plan which differentiates between the work for private and state-owned firms.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – The Indian Navy is examining the capabilities of Indian companies whether they have the capacity to build submarines, fighter jets, helicopters and armored vehicles. "We are looking at Indian partners. We will identify the Indian partners as they have to pass through technical and financial gates. So, we are looking at top of the line people," Vice-Admiral DM Deshpande, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, said.

News Story: Indian Black Shark torpedo deal for Navy might be revived

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Italy's Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei S.p.A., a subsidiary of Leonardo, might be reconsidered to supply Black Shark torpedoes for French Scorpene submarines currently being built in India, according to sources in the Indian Ministry of Defence.  

This follows observations made by India's attorney general on the legality of issuing tenders and its subsidiary defence companies, which are facing probes on charges of alleged corruption. 

In June of last year, MoD announced the cancellation of a $200 million deal for Black Shark torpedoes, but MoD sources said the tender was not formally cancelled and that no intimation of the cancellation was conveyed to the Italian company. 

Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei S.p.A., or WASS, was declared the winner over Atlas Elektronik of Germany in 2014 in a global tender to supply Black Shark torpedoes to be mounted on the six French Scorpene submarines licensed produced by state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. 

Although WASS  emerged  as  the  lowest  bidder against Atlas Elektronik, the contract could not be signed because in August 2014, the government put a ban on signing the contracts in the wake of the probe into the VVIP  helicopters scam relating to AgustaWestland, another subsidiary of Leonardo.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Indian Navy to Induct First Scorpene Class Submarine by July-August

INS Kalvari (File Photo)

The first of India’s six Scorpene submarines will be inducted into the Indian Navy in the next two months, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has said.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Lanba said Kalvari (the Indian name of the first Scorpene class submarine) is going through final phase of trials and is likely to join the Navy by July-August.

“Kalvari is going through its final phase of trials and we are hopeful that in July-August we will take delivery,” Admiral Sunil Lanba said on the sidelines of a Navy-FICCI seminar on Building India’s Future Navy: Technology Imperatives.

News Report: India Puts Itself at Risk With Untested Faith in Private Defense Firms

To curb dependency on defense imports, the Indian government has taken steps over the last few weeks to ease defense manufacturing rules for private companies. Experts wonder if the government knows the risks it runs into by rushing into privatizing defense contracts without testing the companies.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – Among the measures taken by the government, the strategic partnership policy (SPP) has been the chosen route by nominating private defense companies as “strategic partners” for building major weapons platforms including fighter jets, helicopters, submarines and armored vehicles.

The SPP envisages, “establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with qualified Indian industry majors through a transparent and competitive process wherein the Indian industry partners would tie up with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers and manufacturing know-how to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chain.”

It is estimated the SPP alone could generate $30 billion procurement plan for the Indian private sector which does not have technological experience and minuscule research and development program. Under the policy, India’s Defense Ministry will commit purchase of submarines worth approximately $10 billion, naval utility helicopters of $4 billion, fighter jets worth $15 billion and some other projects. But lack of technological experience combined with the policy structure may reduce them to being hosts of an assembly line for a foreign firm, instead of developing technology.

News Report: India to Offload 25% Share of Four Government Defense Firms

The Indian government has agreed to sell up to 25 percent stake in government-owned defense companies, involved in shipbuilding and guided missiles, to give a push to defense manufacturing within the country.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The government also approved the listing of four out of nine such firms on the stock market. Four firms, namely Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) and MIDHANI will be listed on stock exchange. Currently, the government holds 100% stake in all these companies.

Established in 1970, BDL manufactures guided missiles and allied defense equipment. GRSE and MDSL are India's larger shipbuilding companies. MDSL is building the Scorpene class submarine in co-operation with French company DCNS. GRSE makes warships and auxiliary vessels for the Navy and the Coast Guard. Apart from shipbuilding and ship repair, GRSE is one of the few versatile shipyards having its own engineering and engine division.

"It is the first step towards disinvestment which alone can infuse greater professionalism in the functioning of these public sector units (PSUs), plagued by issues concerning quality and productivity. Private shareholders would demand greater cost efficiency and accountability," said Amit Cowshish, the former financial advisor to the Defense Ministry.

News Story: India testfires anti-ship missile from submarine

INS Kalvari (Image: Indian Navy)

NEW DELHI, March 2 (Xinhua) -- India on Thursday testfired an anti-ship missile from its first Scorpene-class stealth submarine INS Kalvari.

The Indian Defense Ministry said that the anti-ship missile, which was fired from home-made INS Kalvari, successfully hit a surface target at an extended range during the trial.

"This missile launch is a significant milestone, not only for the Kalvari, which is the first in a series of Scorpene-class submarines being built in India, but also in enhancing the Indian Navy's sub-surface warfare capability," the ministry said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: No Torpedoes for India's Second Scorpene Submarine

Black Shark heavyweight torpedo

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India has launched the second French Scorpene-class submarine, but the Khanderi will not be equipped with torpedoes because the $200 million tender to buy them remains undecided by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) since it was created five years ago. 

The MoD has put on hold the acquisition of 98 Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes, to be mounted on Scorpene submarines from WASS, a subsidiary of Italian firm Leonardo. 

Plans to procure Black Shark torpedoes for the Indian Navy from WASS was canceled in May, an MoD spokesman confirmed with Defense News last year. The decision came in the wake of corruption charges involving another subsidiary of Leonardo, AgustaWestland and the Indian National Congress political party. 

India's 1st Scorpene-class submarine, just before launching

With the Khanderi's launch on Thursday, the sub is set to undergo rigorous trials until the end of the year. When the trials are over, the sub will be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Khanderi, an Indian Navy official explained. 

The MoD expects the sub to be delivered to the Navy by mid-2017. 

"The force strength of submarines is very low at this point. The reason for this situation is the closure of Shisumar (German HDW) class project and delay in the Scorpene project. The existing submarines are less than 25 years old. With this background, launch of the second submarine at [state-owned Mazagon Dock Limited] MDL is of great importance," retired Indian Navy Captain Shyam Kumar Singh offered.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: India launches French-designed Scorpene-class attack submarine at Mumbai dock

India's 1st Scorpene-class Submarine just before launch

NEW DELHI, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- India Thursday launched its second French-designed Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarine Khanderi at Mumbai's Mazagon Dock.

The submarine was separated from the pontoon on which it was assembled at the dock in Mumbai in the presence of India's junior Defense Minister Subhash Bhamre and Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba in the morning.

The Indian Navy said that the submarine, named after an island fort of the Maratha forces in western India in the 17th century, will undergo sea trials till December this year before getting commissioned in the Indian Navy as INS Khanderi.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: India to Launch Second Scorpene Class Submarine on January 12

The Launching of India's 1st Scorpene class submarine

India is keeping its date with the launch of Scorpene submarines despite the leakage of most of its primary data. This may be due China's naval wooing of India's neighbors.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Undeterred by data leak last year, India has decided to launch its second Scorpene class submarine christened Kandheri without any modification in its parameters. As a part of Project 75 of Indian Navy under which six submarines are being built, Khanderi will be launched on January 12 at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.

This launch announcement sounds strange in the context of Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba stating that India and France will set up a joint committee to consider changes if any of the configurations have been compromised in the 22,400 pages submarine data leak in an Australian newspaper last August.

News Story: DCNS and MDL Proposing Three More Scorpene-class Submarines with AIP to the Indian Navy

Kalvari just before launching on 28th October 2015

According to well connected French financial newspaper La Tribune, French shipbuilder DCNS and its Indian industry partner Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) have made an unsolicited "repeat order" offer for three Scorpene-class submarines to the Indian Navy.

Six submarines of the P75 project are being built by MDL through technology transfers from DCNS for the Indian Navy. "Kalvari", the first Scorpene class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) was launched in the water on 28th October 2015 in Mumbai. It started sea trials in May last year. The sea trials campaign went well and left Indian submariners with a very good impression. "Khanderi", the second submarine in the series, is set to be launched this month.

The repeat order proposal for three more submarines would include an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system developped by India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). An AIP system allows submarines to stay underwater for longer durations. The last two of the six Scorpene submarines initial order (P75 project) were set to be fitted with this DRDO AIP system but the decision was reverted late last year. According to Indian media, the DRDO missed the deadline.

Read the full story at Navy Recognition

India: India to embark on a path of self-reliance in submarine design and construction - P75 I program soon to be announced - Manohar Parrikar

New Delhi, Nov 22, 2016. Shri Manohar Parrikar, Raksha Mantri, speaking at an International Seminar on Current and Future Challenges in Design and Construction of Underwater Vehicles, organized by FICCI with active participation of Indian Navy at Federation House, New Delhi, emphasized the commitment of government towards modernization of armed forces. He mentioned that the current government has cleared more than 2 lakh crore worth defence acquisition since it came to power and is resolved to order 3 lakh crore (cumulative basis) by the end of this financial year.

Mr Parrikkar commended Indian Navy for commendable track record in indigenously designing and constructing the advanced Front line Warships such as Destroyers, Frigates, Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes, Landing Crafts and is in the midst of constructing an Aircraft carrier. He further stated that in keeping with “Make-in-India” the indigenous content of the latest Naval Platforms is today a staggering 85-90 %.

News Report: Indian Navy Commissions Largest Warship in Country’s History

INS Kolkata, Lead ship of the Kolkata class Destroyer

The Kolkata-class destroyer ship INS Chennai, the largest ship built in India to date, was commissioned into New Delhi’s naval fleet on Monday by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The ceremony took place at Mumbai’s navy yard and the ship was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., also in Mumbai. 

The third Indian-built missile destroyer in its class, the vessel has a displacement of over 7,500 tons, is 538-feet long and can travel at speed up to 55 KPH.

"The ship is equipped with a decoy that can divert a missile attack," the Times of India quoted one official saying. "Nearly 60% of the ship was built at Mazagon Dock, while weapons and sensors were brought from Israel and Russia. Destroyers are second only to aircraft carriers in projecting raw combat power." 

News Story: Indian Navy to Buy Seven Corvettes for $2 Billion

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI - The Indian navy plans to acquire seven new-generation guided missile corvettes at a cost of $2 billion to replace its Russian-built 1241-RE missile boats, allowing only domestic companies to bid under the government's "Make in India" rules.

While the ships themselves must be constructed at an Indian shipyard, some major systems of the boats, particularly the weaponry, will be imported, an Indian Navy official said.

"I suppose most of the leading European and Russian shipyards will be in the fray," says Anil Jai Singh, retired Indian navy commodore and defense analyst.

"The imports could be the Short Range Surface to Air Missile SRSAM, surveillance radars, torpedoes and engines. The rest can be Indian -- that is, the gun, surface-to-surface missile systems, rockets, sonars, most of  the navigation communications and electronic-warfare systems," says Sujeet Samaddar, another former Indian navy official and defense analyst.

The Indian sea service wants the new corvettes to have longer range than the old boats, capable of offensive nuclear submarines attack, anti-submarine warfare, local naval defense, maritime interdiction operations, and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations, according to the a request for proposals sent to Indian industry.

"Missile corvettes are agile high-speed ships with considerable firepower, ideal for a littoral environment. These corvettes will probably have a potent anti-ship missile capability with an adequate point defense missile system and incorporating advanced stealth technologies," says Singh. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Second Indian Navy Project 15B Destroyer Mormugao Launched at MDL Shipyard in Mumbai

Project 15B Destroyer are based on Project 15A Kolkata-class
(Image: P15A Kolkata class Destroyer)

Another significant milestone in the annals of the Indigenous Warship design and construction programme of India was achieved with the launch of Guided Missile Destroyer, Mormugao, second ship of Project 15B, on 17 Sep 2016, at Mazagaon Dock Ship Builders Limited (MDL), Mumbai. With a launch weight of 2844 tonnes, the vessel made its first contact with water at 11:58 AM with full fanfare during the launching ceremony graced by Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba as the Chief Guest.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff said that “this event is yet another moment of truth for the Indian Navy and India’s quest for self-reliance and indigenisation. The Indian Navy stands fully committed to the call of ‘Make in India’ and we are extremely proud of the fact that all of our warships and submarines on order today are being constructed within the country”. He further added that this also is “an affirmation of our resolve that the Indian Navy should attain a size and capability that is commensurate with India’s growing stature in the world, our national maritime interests, and our commitment to cooperation and collaboration towards ensuring secure seas for shaping a favourable and positive maritime environment. "

The Admiral also commended the synergic partnership of MDL, Indian Navy, DRDO, OFB, BEL, other public sector enterprises and the private industry in ensuring that force levels are made available to meet India’s National strategic objectives. He also congratulated DGND and his team at Directorate of Naval Design for designing state of the art warships and contributing towards achieving Indian Navy’s dream of transforming from a “Buyers” to a “Builders” Navy.

Read the full story at Navy Recognition

News Story: India Rejects DCNS Proposal to Locally Produce API Sub Tech

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has decided not to give DCNS of France permission to develop a local, fully owned subsidiary to manufacture air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarine systems on the advice of state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), which is developing its own AIP systems, according to a senior MoD official. 

DRDO had "impressed" upon the ministry that DCNS wants to bring to India the same technology that DRDO is developing, said the MoD source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

DCNS is the first overseas company to have sought clearance to invest 100 percent through FDI by setting up a fully owned subsidiary in the defense sector. 

The Indian government in June this year changed the FDI laws to make it easier for overseas companies to receive permission for a 100 percent FDI in the defense sector. 

However, Arun Prakash, a retired Indian Navy admiral, disagrees with the ministry's decision. 

"If we keep a cool head, we should allow this (clearance of DCNS proposal) to proceed uninterrupted. This is most valuable and arcane technology, and there is a lot we can do with it in the future," Prakash said. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Submarine Data Leak Roils Three Governments

Indi's 1st Scorpene class submarine prior to launch

Pierre Tran in Paris, Vivek Raghuvanshi in New Delhi, Nigel Pittaway in Australia, and Christopher P. Cavas in Washington contributed to this report. 

The revelation Aug. 24 by an Australian newspaper that thousands of pages of presumably secret submarine documents were on the loose shook governments in Canberra, New Delhi and Paris. The news threatened the operational security of India’s new Scorpene-class submarines, embarrassed French shipbuilder DCNS, and raised security questions about Australia’s recent Australian $50 billion deal with DCNS for 12 Shortfin Barracuda submarines, of a design similar to the Scorpenes. 

As reported by The Australian newspaper, a reporter was shown samples of up to 24,500 pages of highly technical data on the Scorpene submarine, an advanced, non-nuclear design that has been exported by DCNS to several countries. The documents, said The Australian, include highly technical drawings, specifications and operational capability descriptions of the submarine’s stealth features; noise signatures at different speeds; range, endurance, diving depths, magnetic and infrared data. 

The information, The Australian reported, would be considered classified and highly sensitive by any navy. 

Initially, there were fears that some sort of Wikileaks-like situation had occurred, or that this was a case of industrial espionage. But on Aug. 27, The Weekend Australian reported it seemed to be more a story of a disgruntled employee who initially stole the data, followed by mishandling of the information by a contractor. The story, the publication said, seemed to be “more Austin Powers than James Bond.” 

An operational Scorpene class submarine

Initially, said The Weekend Australian, it’s believed a French subcontractor copied the data from DCNS in France in 2011, and it was taken to “a Southeast Asian country” – reported by Reuters to be India. After a fallout with his employer, the subcontractor was terminated, but the data was left on a company computer. The information was then sent to the company’s head office in Singapore, and in April 2013 the data was placed on a server. It is not clear, The Weekend Australian said, how long the data resided on the server or whether any foreign intelligence service obtained the data. 

But the complete data package was copied to a disk, dropped in the mail, and sent to an unspecified person in Sydney, Australia who, realizing the significance, copied it to an encrypted disk, destroyed the original and stored it in a locked filing cabinet for more than two years. 

More recently, The Weekend Australian reported, the man showed samples of the data to a reporter while meeting in a Melbourne suburb. The man, the publication said, called himself a whistleblower and wanted to demonstrate that a serious security breach existed in a dangerously uncontrolled form, and that France has already lost control of secret data on India’s submarines. 

His hope, The Weekend Australian said, was to spur Australia and DCNS to step up security to ensure Australia’s submarine program doesn’t suffer the same fate. 

The Australian government tried to play down the story. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews