In a strategic partnership model with Indian MDL and L&T defense majors, Daewoo and Navantia have proven air-independent propulsion technologies that can be applied to long-endurance submarines.
Navantia, a company that has proven AIP technology, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of South Korea have shown an interest in building the submarines under Project 75 (I) India of the Indian Navy.
It is unclear whether Daewoo and Navantia will be interested in building long-endurance diesel submarines in India under the strategic partnership model, despite the Defence Ministry again extending the deadline for submission of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the advanced submarine project until November 30. Originally issued in July 2021, the RFP was extended until November 30, 2022, from the June 30, 2022, deadline.
As part of the RFP document, certain clauses concerning “joint and several penalties” need to be amended. Shortly, the Defence Acquisition Committee (DAC) will take up the amended clauses for approval. The Indian government has selected Mazagoan Docks Limited (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to build six air-independent propulsion (AIP) diesel attack submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rupees 40,000 crores under the strategic partnership model.
