The Project-75I seems to be stuck. There are questions that eventually it may not even be executed through the Strategic Partnership model and the government may nominate a chosen DPSU shipyard. In any case, the second line of submarines will take over a decade before they are inducted into the navy. Is navy thinking of an interim plan to make up the numbers? Is it likely to place order for additional Scorpene submarines?

The policy on Strategic Partnership (SP) Model was promulgated by the government of India on 31 May 2017. Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project was accorded on 31 January 2019. Thereafter, the Request for Expression of Interest for shortlisting of SPs and foreign OEMs was issued on 20 June and 2 July 2019 respectively. The responses from prospective SPs have been received on 11 September 2019. The responses of Foreign OEMs — M/s TKMS Germany, M/s Naval Group, France, M/s Rosoboronexport, Russia, M/s Navantia Spain and M/s DSME, South Korea — have been received.

Presently, the responses of both the SP’s and foreign OEM are being evaluated. While the procurement of new generation P-75(I) submarines is being progressed, the submarine force levels are being maintained through life extension of our legacy submarines. Presently, there is no plan to order additional Scorpene submarines or to nominate any DPSU shipyard for construction of submarines under Project 75(I).

As far as the overall submarine force levels are concerned, the required force levels of our submarine and strategy of their operation in the future have been enunciated in the overall force structure plans and are being developed to address the challenges in the underwater domain.

Indian Navy presently operates 15 conventional