43 thousand crore ‘Make in India’ project approved for the construction of six conventional submarines

New Delhi. The 43 thousand crore ‘Make in India’ project for the construction of six conventional submarines has been approved by the Defense Acquisition Council headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
According to government sources, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project under the ‘strategic partnership mode’ – the first such military hardware acquisition project under this model.
In view of China’s rapidly growing naval capabilities, this important decision has been taken with the aim of enhancing India’s capabilities. Government sources said the submarines would be built as part of a strategic partnership that allows domestic defense equipment manufacturers to build state-of-the-art military platforms in partnership with leading foreign defense manufacturing companies to reduce dependence on exports.
Sources said that in the meeting of Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, it was decided to give permission to this project named ‘P-75 India’. The DAC is the apex body of the Ministry of Defense to take procurement decisions.
Sources said that the specifications of the submarines and other important tasks like issuance of Request for Proposal (RFP) for the mega project, have been completed by different teams of the Defense Ministry and the Indian Navy. He informed that this project will be implemented over a period of 12 years.
Sources said that the DAC has approved issuance of RFP or tender for shipbuilders Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and state-run Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL). With which foreign company these two companies want to join hands for the project, it will be their own decision.
Sources said that it is expected that the RFP will be issued within a month and the contract will be awarded after assessing the response of L&T and MDL thereon. Separate teams of Ministry of Defense and Navy have completed all the ground work including all the requirements and specifications of the submarines required for the release of RPF for this project.