Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) of India and German naval company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is expected to get the multi-billion dollar deal to build six conventional submarines for Indian Navy under Project 75.
Project 75 is a major military acquisition initiative by the ministry of defence aimed at boosting the Navy's submarine capabilities. Under the project, the Navy is looking to buy advanced submarines that can stay underwater for three weeks.
According to news agency ANI, the defence ministry found the bid by Larsen & Toubro non-compliant, leaving MDL and German company TKMS the only vendor left in the Rs 70,000 crore tender race.
The news agency reported quoting defence sources as saying that the proposal by L&T in partnership with Spanish state-owned company Navantia did not comply with the Indian Navy's requirements.
The two companies had displayed the functioning of its Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system in Spain to the Indian Navy. However, the Navy asked for a sea-proven system in its requirements in the tender documents.
AIP system allows submarines to stay submerged for extended periods of time, enhancing their stealth and operational effectiveness.
The Print reported that the first submarine under Project 75 is expected to be delivered in seven years from the date of signing of the contract.
MDL had recently delivered the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine, Vaghsheer, part of the Kalvari-class Project P-75 initiative to the Navy.
