 "submarines, Project 75 I, Defence Acquisition, projects, procurement, indigenous")
Envisioned in 1997 to create a submarine fleet for the Indian Navy, Project-75 has witnessed many ups and downs in meeting its ambitions. Now the defence ministry has launched a fresh initiative, Project-75(I), that has gained global attention.
Here is everything you need to know about Project 75 (India) and its predecessor. What lessons can be taken from India's past experience at building its submarine fleet as the nation embarks on this new ambitious project?
What is Project-75 (India)?
Project-75 (India), also known as P-75(I), is a military acquisition initiative by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The initiative aims to procure diesel-electric attack submarines with fuel cells and Air-Independent Propulsion System (AIP) for the Indian Navy to build India's naval strength and develop indigenous submarine-building capabilities.
Difference between Project 75 and Project 75I
Project 75I is a follow-up to Project 75 and improves upon the design and technology of its predecessor.
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The conventional diesel-electric submarines such as the Scorpene, under Project 75, come with improved stealth features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, long-range guided torpedoes, tube-launched anti-ship missiles, sonars and sensor suites.
However, as electrical batteries power them, they need to surface every 48 hours to be recharged.
The AIP technology will improve on this in Project 75I building six submarines that can stay submerged for up to two weeks. These submarines may even be larger in size compared to the ones under Project 75.
Project 75 was expected to span 30 years and went through many budget and delivery changes. The project was also heavily delayed and even switched contracting firms. Project 75 taught the Indian Navy and Ministry of Defence many lessons which may improve how the next initiative is planned.
Another staggering difference between the projects is the budget, while Project 75 came to just Rs 23,000 crore, Project 75I is beginning at almost double the budget at a staggering Rs 43,000 crore.
However, as the bidding on Project-75I has only just begun, the project itself may take another two years before it starts.
What is Project 75?
Project-75 was conceived in 1997 for the construction of two indigenous SSK Submarines known as Type 1500. The project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the decision-making body of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Who built the Scorpene submarines for Project 75?
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), which comes under MoD, was contracted to build the submarines in collaboration with Thomson-CSF (TCSF), France, at an estimated cost of Rs. 700 crore.
The project was divided into two phases: Phase I and Phase II. In Phase I, some submarines were to be built at MDL under Project-75, while additional submarines would be constructed later using indigenous capabilities.
In April 2001, the collaboration with TCSF was dropped as the Indian Navy chose to pursue a newer submarine design, Scorpene. This design was offered with a provision of technology transfer (TOT) by another French naval firm Armaris (later DCNS, now Naval Group).
In 1999, the MoD also approved a plan to build 24 submarines over 30 years. However, due to financial constraints, only six submarines have been sanctioned to be operational by the mid-2030s, according to a report by SP's Naval Force.
Delays in operations
On September 6, 2005, the approval for the project and its cost was granted by the government. Contracts were signed between the Government of India, MDL, Naval Group (France), and MBDA for the construction, technology transfer, and supply of critical components.
The construction of the submarines commenced between December 2006 and July 2009. However, challenges related to technology absorption, delays in industrial infrastructure augmentation, and procurement of MDL-purchased materials (MPM) led to delays in project delivery.
The submarine project's cost also increased over time. From the initial price negotiations in October 2002 at Rs 12,609 crore, the cost increased to Rs 18,798 crore when the contract was finalised in October 2005.
According to project accounts submitted to the Lok Sabha in 2009-10, this increase was primarily due to escalations and exchange rate variations.
In February 2010, the price would be revised to Rs 23,562 crore along with the delivery schedule.
Excluding Indian shipyards
In 2013, the Indian Navy reportedly decided to exclude Indian shipyards from the construction of six submarines under Project-75.
MDL was to build three while Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, which the MoD also acquired from the Ministry of Shipping, would build one submarine, and private sector shipyards L&T and Pipavav would compete to build two.
However, the Navy was reluctant to hand the project to Indian shipyards as MDL was running 30 months late in delivering the first of six Scorpene submarines under Project-75.
"We are desperately short of submarines," an admiral had told Business Standard at the time. Moreover, an audit showed that only seven or eight out of 15 submarines were operational at any given time, and the requirement was at least 24.
Strategic partnership policy
Strategic Partnerships in the Defence Sector were finalised as a part of the Defense Procurement Policy (DPP) 2016.
The policy spells out guidelines for private Indian defence firms to better participate in the manufacturing of defence equipment, especially for manufacturing submarines, warships, fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, etc.
Foreign vendors selling India these platforms would be required to transfer technology to the designated Indian "strategic partner", which would manufacture the platform in India and support it through its service life.
The defence ministry has favoured a proposal to build four Project-75I submarines at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai (MDL), and the remaining two through the designated "strategic partner". With the finalisation of this policy, the vision to build all submarines in India could be fulfilled.
Two Scorpene submarines do test trials
In June 2017, the second Scorpene, Khanderi, was ready to set off for its maiden voyage. The first Scorpene, Kalvari, was at the time still to be readied for delivery later in the same year.
However, the trial team found at least 35 defects in the vessel, and it was not able to join the naval fleet at the time.
Five of these submarines have now been built, with the last one, INS Vaghsheer, being readied to commence sea trials. It will likely be inducted into the Navy by the end of this year.
Upgrading to AIP submarines P-75(I)
In 2021, Naval Group sought a new set of six Scorpenes to be constructed with AIP technology. This technology would allow the diesel-electric submarines to stay underwater for up to two weeks before being recharged. Diesel-electric submarines can manage 48 hours before needing to surface to be recharged. Moreover, masts and snorkels that protrude from the water make the submarine easily detectable by other vessels.
In June 2021, the defence ministry issued a tender to build six conventional submarines at about Rs 43,000 crore, making it India's largest acquisition project. This budget also leaves little room for revisions, as was the case with Project 75, whose budget was increased several times over the years.
The indigenous construction would be equipped "with contemporary equipment, weapons, and sensors, including fuel cell-based AIP plant, advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state-of-the-art countermeasure system," read the tender.
Shipyards gear up for bidding on P-75 (I)
This latest initiative under Project-75I has received renewed international interest in India's submarine ambitions.
MDL has geared up to bid for the project by signing an agreement with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in June 2023.
A month later, Larson & Toubro also signed a teaming agreement with Spain's Navantia "for submission of a techno-commercial bid for Indian Navy's prestigious P75 (India) submarine programme," as stated in a release issued by Navantia.
