The Indian government has issued an expression of interest (EOI) seeking potential partners for the navy’s P-75(I) indigenous submarine project.
Under a project that is expected to cost an estimated Rs 45,000 Crores (US$ 6.4 billion), the country plans to build a total of six conventionally-powered submarines that would be designed and built in India.
The Indian Navy would retain an option for building an additional six units.
This is the second project being undertaken under the latest strategic partnership model, with the first being the procurement of 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH).
This EoI is for the shortlisting of Indian strategic partners, a further EoI for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will be issued in two weeks.
The potential strategic partners are expected to respond to the EoI within two months. The Indian companies would be shortlisted based on their capability for integration of system of systems, expertise in shipbuilding domain and the financial strength. The OEMs would be shortlisted primarily based on their submarine design meeting the Indian Navy’s qualitative requirements and qualifying the transfer of technology and indigenous content criteria.