India : First Scorpene Submarine by 2015

India is expected to commission its first Scorpene submarine being developed by French naval construction group DCNS, by 2015. The state-owned Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) is producing six SSK Scorpene submarines (P75) under Transfer of Technology from DCNS at a total cost of little over Rs 20,000 crore. Simultaneously, DCNS India, its Indian subsidiary, is working on the selection of Indian companies as partners for local production of the Scorpene’s equipment. DCNS India signed a contract with SEC Industries for the manufacture of high technological equipment for the P75 Scorpene submarines in September 2011 and the second contract was signed in May this year for additional items. The remaining five submarines are expected to be delivered by 2018. Bernard Buisson, Managing Director of
DCNS India, said these contracts cover an extensive Transfer of Technology. India has received investments of Rs 20,000 crore so far under the ‘Indian Defence Offset Policy’ that mandates foreign defence equipment suppliers to invest 30 per cent of the contract value in Indian companies.