New Delhi: After the Scorpene submarines, India and France are exploring “more ambitious” projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet, which is currently lagging behind its projected 2030 strength.
ThePrint has learned that this could help India plan to build six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) in France.
SSNs are nuclear-powered, but do not carry nuclear warheads, unlike nuclear-powered ballistic-missile-carrying ships called SSBNs.
Sources in the defense establishment told ThePrint that closed-door talks on this development have been going on for over a year and the broad details are yet to be finalised, but discussions are on.
Interestingly, the Horizon 2047 document released after Friday’s meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron hints at possible plans.
“India and France stand ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance”, said the document detailing the roadmap for the bilateral strategic partnership over the next 25 years.
In a conversation on the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in Goa in January this year, ThePrint had asked French ambassador in New Delhi Emmanuel Lenain about discussions about India and France possibly coming together on the SSN.
Asked whether France would help India develop nuclear-powered and nuclear-attack submarines like Russia’s, he underlined that the country has a long-standing submarine cooperation with India.
“The Naval Group is working with Mazagon Dock Limited to build the Scorpene submarines in India with a complete transfer of technology,” he said. “We look forward to continuing our partnership. Does India want to go for P75 I [submarines programme] Or more Scorpene or even next generation, it is up to India to decide.
Lenain had reported that with Australia, the French had offered a new conventional diesel and electric submarine based on the Barracuda class of nuclear-powered submarines. “It can be done,” he said.
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India’s 30 year plan
France operates Barracuda submarines built by Naval Group which is building the Scorpene submarines in India in partnership with Mazagon Dockyard Limited.
The Barracuda submarine built by Naval Group has bagged a contract to supply three more Scorpene class diesel-electric submarines at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) in Mumbai for the Indian Navy.
Currently, India has a 30-year plan to induct 24 submarines, including 18 diesel-electric and six SSNs, which will end in 2030.
Out of 18, the Navy has been able to buy only 6 which are Scorpene class submarines.
India also operates at least one SSBN, INS Arihant, while another of the same class is almost operational.
Russia is helping India in this project and India is leasing a nuclear submarine named INS Chakra to help train its own crew to operate the nuclear submarine.
The original INS Chakra initially came to India on a three-year lease that began in 1988. Chakra II was included in 2012 and goes back to 2021.
However, India and Russia, in 2019, signed a $3 billion agreement for the lease of the third SSN – Chakra III – which is likely to be in Indian waters by 2025 at the earliest.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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