There has been a huge lag in the P-75I programme, from the time it was conceptualised until now. How will this affect your offer to the Indian Navy?

Based on long term investment in ongoing P75 submarine programme and Indo-French bilateral relations between the nations and also the industry, Naval Group has been actively involved with Indian Navy at RFI stage and was finally shortlisted as one of the five OEMs after a long selection process. We were indeed keen to participate in the P75(I) tender and be consulted by the strategic partners such as L&T or MDL to propose the best performing modern submarine to Indian Navy. This would have been proposed by building upon what had already been remarkably achieved through the ongoing P75 program.

But some conditions in the RFP are finally not allowing us to participate.

As a Strategic Partnership programme, the prime would be the Indian company, either in the public or the private sector. Or the programme might get divided between the two. What impact will this have on your partnership with one or two Indian companies?

If we had been allowed to participate, we could have proposed a mor