Sourced : Defense World.Net
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which is pitching HDW-class Type 214 submarine for India’s P75 (I) project has offered to integrate any weapon system, including ‘Brahmos’ onto its submarines if it bags the deal.
Gurnad Sodhi, Managing Director of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ operations in India said that thyssenkrupp is ready to integrate any weapon system, including ‘Brahmos’ onto the latest Type 214 class submarines for the upcoming project P75 (I) project.
“We fully support the ‘Make and Made in India’ policy which would encompass inter-alia Transfer of Technology (ToT), training and meeting all offset obligations. We are awaiting the government’s decision on the Strategic Partner chapter of the new DPP 2016, after which we will begin our negotiations with an Indian shipyard for the P75 (I),” he said.
Thyssenkrupp signed 35 million euros contract with the Indian MoD for the upgrade of Indian Navy’s two Shishumar Class submarines to fire Harpoon Anti-Submarine Counter measure missiles Thursday.
“We have the capacity to integrate any weapon system that is selected by the Indian Navy, onto our (Indian) submarines. We are happy to take on this project to now integrate the harpoon missiles in two of the four SSK submarines,” Sodhi said.
Other than Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Russian Rosoboronexport and French DCNS submarine companies are also competing for the P75 (I) project. Spain’s Navantia S-80 class and Sweden’s Saab Kockums’ with its A26 submarines have also shown interest in the P75 (I).
Russia, which is developing its own AIP system, has already advised India to conclude the P75 (I) project under a government deal as it has too many complexities of technology transfer.
Five Indian shipyards have been shortlisted by a top government committee for the project. The shipyards shortlisted are Mazagon Dock Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Cochin Shipyard Limited and private sector yards Pipavav and Larsen & Toubro.
The new submarines will have the capability to operate underwater for several weeks with air-independent propulsion systems, greater strike power against land targets and improved stealth features that make them harder to detect.