France is understood to be considering equipping two of the six Scorpene submarines — currently being built at the Mazgaon shipyard in India under transfer of technology — with the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology that enables the conventional diesel-electric submarines to stay underwater for longer periods of time,
sources have said. The six Scorpene submarines are expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy from 2015 to 2018. The project has already suffered from delays but even if two of the submarines are fitted with this technology, it will offer tremendous advantages to the Navy. But it is unclear if this will lead to a cost escalation of the Scorpene project. India had earlier signed contracts with French defence firms for about `13,000 crores a few years ago for the Scorpene project.
The last two Scorpene submarines to be delivered could be equipped with the AIP technology.
Already, India is planning to float a RFP for acquisition of technology for construction of a second line of another six conventional submarines that will have the AIP technology. The Indian Navy is worried that over the next five years, the numerical strength of its submarine fleet may come down by 40 per cent (due to phasing out of old submarines) if there is no substantial augmentation of the fleet. India currently has 16 diesel-powered submarines which are of Russian and German origin.
The induction of India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant is expected to happen by 2012.