Posted on 08/21/2014 12:35:43 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
As the wait for Project 75 India gets longer, and as an RFP gets more elusive, both France and Russia are in discussions with the Indian Navy to supply two submarines quickly off the shelf. As SP's had reported last year, France's DCNS has already offered to quickly build two Scorpene attack submarines and supply them.
Reports now suggest that Rosoboronexport has made a similar offer. In such an instance, the Amur 1650 is on offer, and would be the first of the type ever built. The tantalising underwater battle between the French and Russians has veered from one side to the other, with top sources now indicating that should the Defence Ministry agree to the navy's request that it be allowed to contract for two submarines directly from one of the two shipyards, it would slow force level depletions compounded by the INS Sindhurakshak tragedy last year.
But several questions remain unanswered. For instance, how would the government decide which submarine to choose among the two? Second, would that impact the P75I programme itself?
Clearly, the navy isn't anywhere closer to satisfactory force levels.
Having dealt with the French military industrial complex and read extensively about the Russian one, I’d hesitate to buy from either. Now Germany is another story. Even Canada has a better record.
Does anyone know the intended mission of the stopgap submarine? I’m not familiar with them.
Are the Indian gov’t sure they want Russian subs?
Aug 13, 2013: INS Sindhurakshak, which was recently refitted in Russia, caught on fire after an explosion and subsequently sank in a military shipyard.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-14/sailors-trapped-on-indian-submarine-following-explosion/4886484
Instead of crap russian equipment why not get a German sub. They have some nice AIP and are clearly in the export market as they sell them to Israel. The Aussies just made a deal with Japan. I am not sure the Japs would trust the Indians with sensitive technology, but they have a common concern with China.
Germany is competing to sell India subs; it already operates Type-209 subs. The French boats are not shabby either (with multiple export orders).
The Project 75 submarines that they're talking about are French Scorpene. The current Indian submarine force is made up of Russian Kilo's, rapidly aging Russian Kilo's, and a couple of German Type 209's. So it really depends on which way the Indians want to go. Since they're committed to their Project 75 then the off-the-shelf Scorpene's would be the better fit. On the other hand, some updated Russian subs might fit in with the current fleet. Forget the Germans. If the Indian Navy started over and reopened the bidding process it'll be 30 years before the first boat arrives. Their acquisition process makes an arthritic snail look like Seabiscuit.
“Their acquisition process makes an arthritic snail look like Seabiscuit. “
I’ve noticed that. My guess is it’s a process intended to solicit bribes. On the other hand, are the Brits still building diesel boats? They had some good ones and BAE owns a huge chunk of Mahindra. (Mahindra is India’s GE.) If they gave the electronics and subsystems to Mahindra they could probably get the contract in record time.
The BAE-Mahindra JV is dead.
http://www.stratpost.com/bae-systems-quits-dlsi-jv-with-mahindra
BAE Systems never owned any stakes in Mahindra, which is predominantly a civilian industry player. Foreign investment in Indian defense ventures is still heavily restricted and is mostly limited to JVs as opposed to full-scale stakes and ownership.
About getting a contract in record time, tough chance for a company with zero maritime pedigree and assets. Their JV was to manufacture land vehicles. L&T and Pipavav are the main private shipbuilders in India.
Didn’t know abut the Mahindra deal falling through. But BAE is into just about everything.
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