At a meeting chaired by Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on 25th October, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave the green light to programmes to procure diesel-electric submarines (SSK) and anti-tank guided weapons (ATGW) valued at over 80,000 crore rupees (approx. $13 billion) over the next decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” policy ensures that both the submarines and the missiles will be manufactured in India, after the transfer of technology and appropriate intellectual property has been negotiated.
Submarines have been a glaring capability gap in recent years for the Indian Navy, whose Project 75 envisions the construction of six new SSKs. The project has been delayed since original agreement on the subject some seven years ago, but the DAC decision at the weekend means a Request for Proposals could be issued in the foreseeable future. It is likely to take at least three years to select the design and negotiate a contract, with the first submarine rolling off the construction wharfs some seven to eight years later.
The requirement is for an advanced stealth SSK design, with an air independent propulsion system and the capability to launch land attack missiles. They are likely to be constructed at Magazon Docks in Mumbai and Hindustan Shipyard in Visakhapatnam. The core cost of the programme is currently estimated at 50,000 crore rupees ($8.2 billion).
Also approved was the acquisition of the Israeli SPIKE ATGW. The Israeli weapon system won out over stiff competition from the American JAVELIN system, despite attempts earlier this year by the Obama administration to secure a deal, which included technology transfer and an offer to co-develop a fourth generation of the ATGW in India. However, the US had earlier been reluctant to put technology transfer on the table, whereas Israel had included it from the initial discussions, according to informed sources in New Delhi.
Initial quantities of the SPIKE system, which include approximately 900 launchers and 3,200 missiles, as well as 15 training simulators, are likely to be procured direct from Israel, following which a technology transfer to Bharat Dynamics is expected. The eventual requirement to equip over 400 infantry and mechanised infantry battalions is expected to rise to almost 2,000 launchers and over 32,000 missiles.
Submarines have been a glaring capability gap in recent years for the Indian Navy, whose Project 75 envisions the construction of six new SSKs. The project has been delayed since original agreement on the subject some seven years ago, but the DAC decision at the weekend means a Request for Proposals could be issued in the foreseeable future. It is likely to take at least three years to select the design and negotiate a contract, with the first submarine rolling off the construction wharfs some seven to eight years later.
The requirement is for an advanced stealth SSK design, with an air independent propulsion system and the capability to launch land attack missiles. They are likely to be constructed at Magazon Docks in Mumbai and Hindustan Shipyard in Visakhapatnam. The core cost of the programme is currently estimated at 50,000 crore rupees ($8.2 billion).
Also approved was the acquisition of the Israeli SPIKE ATGW. The Israeli weapon system won out over stiff competition from the American JAVELIN system, despite attempts earlier this year by the Obama administration to secure a deal, which included technology transfer and an offer to co-develop a fourth generation of the ATGW in India. However, the US had earlier been reluctant to put technology transfer on the table, whereas Israel had included it from the initial discussions, according to informed sources in New Delhi.
Initial quantities of the SPIKE system, which include approximately 900 launchers and 3,200 missiles, as well as 15 training simulators, are likely to be procured direct from Israel, following which a technology transfer to Bharat Dynamics is expected. The eventual requirement to equip over 400 infantry and mechanised infantry battalions is expected to rise to almost 2,000 launchers and over 32,000 missiles.