Why in news?
Recently the Defence Acquisition Council approved Indigenous construction of Six Project 75(I) submarines under strategic partnership model.
Details -
– Project 75 India (P-75I) is follow-on of the Project 75 Kalvari-class submarines for the Indian Navy.
– Under this project, the Indian Navy intends to acquire six diesel-electric submarines, which will also feature advanced Air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems to enable them to stay submerged for longer duration and substantially increase their operational range.
– Six Scorpene-class submarines are currently being built under ‘Project 75’ of the Indian Navy.
– The submarines, designed by French firm Naval Group are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.
– The first of these, INS Kalvari was commissioned in Dec 2017 and the second INS Khanderi is undergoing sea trials while the third INS Karanj is under construction.
– The P75I project is part of a 30-year submarine building plan that ends in 2030.
– According to this, India has to build 24 submarines — 18 conventional submarines and six nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs).
