Overview

• The Defence Ministry and Mazagon Dock have authorization to open negotiations with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to build the submarines in India in an estimated Rs 70,000 crore program.
• Discussions are expected to begin by the end of August with a target of six to eight months to settle terms before final government approval.
• The conventional boats are planned to use Air Independent Propulsion, enabling nearly three weeks of submerged endurance for greater persistence and stealth.
• Officials say the effort is key to replacing roughly 10 ageing submarines over the next decade and to address regional naval buildups by China and Pakistan.
• Parallel undersea work continues on nuclear attack submarines with Larsen & Toubro in collaboration with the Submarine Building Centre.