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 "several years ago."

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