India clears submarine project

WASHINGTON, FEB 17: India has allocated 200 m to launch the SSK-class submarine project in August, Defence News reported. Navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar said that the Government has given clearance to the service to build two SSK-class submarines at Mazagaon docks in Mumbai. The project has been limbo since 1992.

Several proposals, he added, are under evaluation and a formal contract would be awarded later this year, and that Rubin Central Design Bureau at St Petersburg has submitted bids to provide sonar, torpedoes and a propellant system. The SSK-Class submarine would be 66 m long with a surface displacement of 1,000 tons.

It would be capable of carrying a crew of up to 40, and are slated to enter service during 2004-2005. Another senior Navy official said the two industrial consortia, HDW and an alliance of Thomson-CSF and DCN International, have been shortlisted to provide the basic design, the report said. Jurger Rohweder, HDW spokesman, said his firm made an offer to India quot;several years ago.quot;

However, quot;we have not heard anything from the customer for over two yearsquot;. The HDW submarines that are presently in service with the Indian Navy are a modified 200-class and were delivered quot;10 or 12 years ago,quot; he said.