DAC shortlists firms to make submarines

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shortlisted Indian and foreign partners to make the next lot of submarines for the Indian Navy.

Two Indian strategic partners (SP) — The Mazagon Docks Limited and L&T — have been shortlisted. MDL is owned by the Ministry of Defence and L&T is owned privately.

The foreign makers will collaborate with the Indian partners to construct six conventional submarines in India. One of the foreign companies and one of the Indian firms will be selected for the project.

This programme is being progressed under the “Strategic Partnership Model” promulgated in 2017. The strategic partner is expected to play a transformational role in building an eco-system in the country, comprising development entities, specialised vendors and suppliers.

The SP model also aims at promoting India as a manufacturing hub for defence equipment, in addition to establishing an industrial and R&D eco-system capable of meeting the future requirements of the Armed Forces.

It was the first meeting of the DAC after appointment of the Chief of the Defence Staff. It met today to consider a number of new and ongoing proposals for procuring critically needed platforms and equipment for the armed forces.

The DAC accorded approval for procurement of equipment worth over Rs 5,100 crore from indigenous sources. These include sophisticated electronic warfare systems for the Army designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured locally by the Indian industry. These systems will be used in deserts and plains and will provide comprehensive electronic support and counter measure capabilities to the field formations in both communication and other aspects of electronic warfare.