French defence production major Naval Group (formerly DCNS) has collaborated with the state-owned Mazagon Docks Ltd (MDL) to manufacture advance Scorpene class submarines in India.
Naval Group entered India in September 2008. It is present in two major cities, Mumbai and New Delhi. It aimed to support indigenisation of defence production in India through the Make in India initiative for Scorpene submarine equipment. It also aims to develop the Indian defence ecosystem and design services in India with talented Indian engineers.
Strategically significant projects have seen increased participation of indigenous content through a complex process of transfer of technology (TOT). Convergence of knowledge, ideas and competence amongst a wide array of cultures was instrumental to the success story of indigenisation.
The launch of INS Karanj on 31 January 2018 was a historic event, as MDL achieved another milestone in its submarine building program. This followed the commissioning of INS Kalvari by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 December 2017, which was a matter of immense pride for MDL and India.
For India, this was the first time that a third submarine of a series was entirely constructed in India. This was also crucial as MDL worked fairly independently, demonstrating the success of the transfer of technology between Naval Group and MDL. As indicated by the Indian Navy and MDL, the program has been on track for quite a while now.
MDL has now attained the level of competence and skills to build complex submarines through successful collaboration and transfer of technology. The second submarine is undergoing sea trials and getting ready for commissioning soon. INS Karanj will also enter the stage of sea trials soon. The remaining three submarines are also in advanced stages of being built at the MDL and will be delivered to the Navy on time.
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