Move to fast-track two submarine projects gathers steam

[cobra commando]

NEW DELHI: There is finally some urgency being shown to rescue India's ageing and depleting underwater combat arm. The approval for two long-pending projects, one for construction of six advanced diesel-electric submarines and the other for six nuclear-powered ones, is well on the cards now. Sources said the finance ministry has asked the defence ministry to "club" the separate projects to "draft a single note" for the requisite nod from Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). "The two projects have been languishing for long in the files being exchanged between the two ministries. The government seems serious about fast-track approvals this time," said a source. The approvals, when they come, will not be a day too soon since India is down to just 13 old diesel- electric submarines, barely half of which are operational at any given time, and a single nuclear- propelled submarine INS Chakra on lease from Russia without any long-range missiles. It takes at least seven to eight years for the first submarine to roll out once its construction project actually gets underway. The two projects will together entail a cost of well over Rs 1 lakh crore spread over 10-15 years. 'Project-75India' for the six conventional submarines, armed with both land-attack missiles and air-independent propulsion (AIP) for greater underwater endurance, was granted "acceptance of necessity'' in November 2007, as was reported earlier by TOI.


Read more here:
Move to fast-track two submarine projects gathers steam - The Times of India

 

[Kranthi]

6 nuclear powered ones..??
That's a surprise..and they say longstanding ??

Attack submarines hopefully...after the 4 SSBNs being built.

 

[Bheeshma]

Good move but work needs to start soon. The work should start before first scorpene and third Arihant hit the water.

 

[bose]

India should go for off the shelf purchase of Scorpeons to tide over the shortages... In any case the new subs will come in next 10 to 12 years at earliest...

 

[EXPERT]

these are just moves, the realities are always different. . .