Published: 7th May, 2022
Context
One of five shortlisted Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) called Naval Group, earlier known as DCNS, for the Navy’s P-75 India (P-75I) project to build six conventional submarines within the country, announced it would not bid for the project.
Background
What is the P-75I project?
- In June 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved a 30-year plan for the Navy to indigenously build and induct 24 submarines by 2030.
- In the first phase, two lines of production were to be established — the first, P-75; the second, P-75I. Both lines producing six submarines each.
- The contract for P-75 was signed in 2005 with the Naval Group, then known as DCNS, in partnership with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).
- The first Kalvari Class (Scorpene Class) submarine under the project was commissioned in December 2017.
- Another five submarines have been built since; the final one, Vagsheer, was launched last month, and will be commissioned by late 2023.
- While P-75 deliveries were delayed, P-75I has seen long delays even before it has kicked off.
- The first Request for Information was issued in 2008, then again in 2010, but the RFP was issued only in July 2021.
- This will be India’s first project under the Strategic Partnership Model — the government will give the contract to an Indian Strategic Partner (SP), which will partner with a foreign OEM to build AIP-powered submarines in the country.
- MDL and Larsen and Toubro are the two selected SP; the five selected OEMs are:
- Naval Group (France),
- ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Germany),
- ROE (Russia),
- Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (South Korea), and
- Navantia (Spain).
What is the status of the project?
- The final bids — one each by the SP in partnership with an OEM — are yet to take place.
- The project faces hurdles as the Naval Group has already announced it is pulling out, and sources said the Russian and Spanish companies might also not proceed with their bids.
- Among the concerns, as Naval Group said, is the requirement to demonstrate a sea-proven fuel cell AIP.
- While some manufacturers may have the technology, it may not have been proven at sea yet.
- Some analysts believe that while the RFP was clear about these conditions, it is possible that the OEMs were expecting certain concessions in the requirements eventually.
- Another problem for the OEMs is with respect to the transfer of technology, which is built into the process under the SP model.
- It is believed that the OEMs are unwilling to share all their expertise, especially the niche technologies that they have built.
Why does the Navy want AIP subs?
- Issuing the RFP last year, the government said it envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines with contemporary equipment, weapons & sensors including Fuel-Cell based AIP (Air Independent Propulsion Plant), advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state of the art countermeasure systems.
- AIP is important for Indian Navy it has a force multiplier effect on lethality of a diesel electric submarine as it enhances the submerged endurance of the boat several folds.
- Fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies.
- AIP technology therefore allows a conventional submarine to remain submerged for much longer than ordinary diesel-electric submarines.
- All conventional submarines have to surface to run their generators that recharge the batteries that allow the boat to function under water.
- However, the more frequently a submarine surfaces, the higher the chances of it being detected. AIP allows a submarine to remain submerged for more than a fortnight, compared to two to three days for diesel-electric boats.
- While the six P-75 submarines are diesel-electric, they can be fitted with AIP technology later in their lives.
- India has been working to develop AIP technology indigenously as well.
What submarines does India have now?
- India has 16 conventional diesel-electric submarines, which are classified as SSKs.
- After the last two Kalvari Class subs are commissioned under P-75, this number will go up to 18.
- India also has two nuclear ballistic submarines, classified SSBN.
- Of the 16 SSKs, four are of Shishumar Class, which were bought and then built in India in collaboration with the Germans starting 1980s:
- 8 are Kilo Class or Sindhughosh Class submarines bought from Russia and
- 4 are Kalvari Class built in India at MDL.
What type of AIP mechanism is India wanting to have in its submarine?
- There are different types of AIP mechanisms available.
- India is looking for under the P-75I project is AIP based on fuel cells.
- These cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy, recharging the batteries of the submarine
|
Practice Question Q1. Explain how Air Independent Propulsion works? Discuss the significance of the technology for Indian Naval power? Q2. India with a coastline of almost 7500 km is vulnerable to various threats. Analyse the issues of maritime security and measure needed to address them. |
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
