Field evaluation trials of submarine bids under Project-75I complete
The Navy’s mega-submarine deal under Project-75I, estimated at over ©43,000 crore, has crossed a major milestone in the process with the field evaluation trials (FET) — to check the compliance of the bids received — now complete. There are two contenders in the fray: Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Navantia of Spain.
While an Indian Navy team visited the TKMS shipyard in March for FET, the evaluation of Navantia’s ofler was conducted last week, ocials confirmed.
The evaluation report will now be compiled and presented to the Defence Ministry, which will declare the technical complaint bids which is expected to take about two months, a defence ocial explained.
Diplomatic sources said that Navantia would be demonstrating the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system fitted in a submarine operating on the surface and not submerged and that the submerged performance would be demonstrated in due course.
The design oflered by TKMS, which has partnered with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), is based on its highly successful Class 214 submarine as well as Class 212CD. Navantia, which has tied up with Larsen & Toubro, has oflered a vessel based on its new S80 class of submarines, the first of which was launched in 2021 and was commissioned into the Spanish Navy as S-81 ‘Isaac Peral’ in November 2023.
The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by the Navy, detailing the specifications required, states that the first submarine should have indigenous content (IC) of 45% which should go up to 60% for the sixth and last submarine.
The key determinant, however, to qualify for P-75I is the AIP system which enhances the endurance of a submarine.
In the backdrop of a decision on the deal, the top leaders of Germany and Spain are scheduled to visit India in the next few months during which they are expected to make a pitch for an inter-governmental agreement.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to visit India in the second half of October for inter-governmental consultations. Spain’s President Pedro Sanchez is also expected to visit in the next few months.
Only Germany and Spain submitted bids for the deal. The deal is being progressed under the Strategic Partnership model of the defence acquisition procedure and L&T and MDL are the two Indian shipyards shortlisted to partner with foreign submarine manufacturers to produce six advanced conventional submarines in India under technology transfer.