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| 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