MDL Submits Bid for over Rs 20,000 crore Project to Build 3 new Kalvari Class Submarines

The Defense News - Mazagon Dockyards Limited, a state-owned entity, has formally responded to the Defence Ministry tender for the construction of three new Kalvari class submarines for the Indian Navy, marking a significant milestone in the project. The collaborative effort with the French company Naval Group will see these submarines being built indigenously in Mumbai.

According to sources in the defense sector, the Defence Ministry has received bids from Mazagon Dockyards Limited for this substantial undertaking. The project, which involves the construction of Kalvari class submarines, is part of a joint venture with Naval Group. Notably, India has already incorporated five out of the six Kalvari class submarines ordered from France in 2005, with the sixth one anticipated to be inducted next year.

The governments approval for Project 75 Additional Submarines was granted during a Defence Acquisition Council meeting in July of this year, coinciding with the approval for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets. The Indian Navy has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Kalvari class submarines and is keen on expediting their induction.

Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Navy, has directed officials to expedite the procedural aspects to kickstart the construction of these submarines at the Indian shipyard. Mazagon Dockyards Limited has previously constructed six Scorpene submarines, with five already in active service, and the sixth expected to be commissioned in early 2024. The latest addition to the fleet, INS Vagir, a stealth Scorpene class submarine, was commissioned in January of this year.

Renowned for their advanced stealth features, the Kalvari class submarines are formidable platforms equipped with long-range guided torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. The Navy is eager to enhance its submarine capabilities, and the collaboration between Mazagon Dockyards Limited and Naval Group remains a crucial step in achieving this objective.