The Defence Ministry on Friday gave the go-ahead to a Rs 43,000 crore project for the indigenous construction of six conventional submarines equipped with the state-of-the-art air independent propulsion system.

The Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the issue of request for proposal (RFP) for the construction of the six submarines under the strategic partnership (SP) model. The project aims to infuse the latest technology and weaponry for submarines in India through a strategic tie-up between Indian Industry and leading foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

This would be one of the largest ‘Make in India’ projects and will serve to facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology and create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India. From a strategic perspective, this will help reduce current dependence on imports and gradually ensure greater self-reliance, the Defence Ministry said. 

With accord of this approval, the country will be enabled to achieve its 30-year Submarine construction programme envisioned by the Government to acquire national competence in submarine construction and for the Indian industry to independently design and construct submarines in India.

The availability of new technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities to the Industry will be an important step towards enhancing the nation’s quest for self-reliance in modern conventional submarine construction and sustainment activities whilst creating direct and indirect job opportunities in India.

This project under SP Model provides a unique long-term opportunity and planning certainty for the industry to invest and support submarine construction.