The second of India’s Scorpene-class submarines, the Khanderi, at its launch in January 2017. It is on sea trials now.
Posted on 07/06/2017 8:28:11 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
There are abundant lessons in India for the Australians negotiating the huge and complex $50 billion contract for the navy’s 12 new submarines.
The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) yard in Mumbai is halfway through a program to build six conventionally-powered Scorpene-class submarines in collaboration with the French shipbuilder Naval Group, which has just changed its name from DCNS.
Against competition from Japan, Germany and, earlier on, Sweden, Naval Group won the contract to design and help build 12 very large Shortfin Barracuda submarines in Australia. The Shortfin is a conventionally-powered version of another Naval Group class, the nuclear-powered Barracuda submarine.
One issue to be dealt with quickly is the view that lingers in some quarters, mainly in South Australia, that 100 per cent of the components of Australia’s new submarines must be made in Australia.
The Mumbai dockyard has a very strong focus on the “make in India” policy of the Modi government but despite its best efforts, local, or “indigenous”, content is expected to reach just 30 per cent in the sixth boat.
The Indians are very conscious of a weakness in their national economy that hindered early efforts to get the submarine project moving. The economy had made a major jump from an agrarian base to one heavily focused on IT but along the way it did not develop manufacturing capability on anything like the same scale.
The Modi government is strengthening the manufacturing sector with a big push to skill the population.
Naval Group says that if it gets to build more Scorpenes for India after the current six, its goal will be to meet the government’s target of at least 50 per cent local content.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
The second of India’s Scorpene-class submarines, the Khanderi, at its launch in January 2017. It is on sea trials now.
Sam Slick saw Six Slim Slender Slipper Sticks.
Is it just me or is the article a bit fuzzy on the subject?
It might be me...I have decided that I might need another cup a' Joe.
Wonder what it smells like on an Indian sub what with the curry and all? Is that wrong?
Nope, the article is pretty clear. It is talking about the Australian project to build 12 submarines using a French design.
The author is talking of the Indian experience in gaining meaningful workshare from the same French company when building six submarines.
Came here to ask the same question..
It’s a reasonable question in my way of thinking.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.