Posted on 12/08/2003 4:31:53 PM PST by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
NEW DELHI, DEC 8: The deal for the six Scorpene Class diesel submarines from the French state-owned shipbuilder Naval Constructions Directorate is expected to be signed soon.
According to sources, the company will give India the technology and know how on the submarines for about $2 billion and involves the six submarines being built in Mumbai. The vessels, although diesel-powered, are designed to be modulable and can be adapted to fit a nuclear power plant, which matches New Delhi´s long-term defence strategy.
According to defence ministry sources, France has agreed in principle to sell six Scorpene submarines to India. DCN-Thomson CSF will also transfer technology for making more of the vessels in the country.
The purchase of the French submarines is part of the Navy´s long-term programme to revamp its submarine fleet, which currently comprises Russian-made Kilo-class vessels and German-designed Howaldswerske vessels.
When asked about the Scorpene deal French ambassador Dominique Girard said, “we are very much in the finalising stage and could expect it soon.”
Under the contract, India will build these submarines at the Mazgaon docks in Goa. Mr Girard said France is keen for “long-term cooperation, joint production and research for building futuristic armament systems with India.” This had received a fillip after the visit of the French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin earlier this year.
According to naval analyst Cmde Ranjit Rai, “the Franco-Spanish Scorpene submarines under Project 75 are more advanced than the HDW boats as they will be fitted with module energiesous-marin autonome system to enable underwater operation for days without surfacing.”
After this deal is signed, the French company has offered ten more diesel submarines to the Navy by 2010, upgraded by HDW for greater endurance. According to highly placed sources, `Scorpenes´ alone cannot meet the country´s strategic requirements without a three-fold increase in endurance time to at least 200 hrs.
It needs modifications for nuclear capability, which France and Germany are jointly willing to undertake, sources add
Diesel trains, yes; Diesel trucks, yes; Diesel boats, no.
The submarine has been built with the technical assistance of France and the said submarine is the most latest version of Agosta class. With the achievement of this milestone Pakistan has joioned the elite club of 12 countries that built submarines.
The "long term"...
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