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French defence shipbuilder DCNS and Hyderabad-based SEC Industries today inaugurated a dedicated facility here for making key components for the six Scorpene submarines being built for the Indian Navy.
This marks a significant milestone in the indigenisation process for the Rs 20,000-crore Scorpene submarine project, which is being developed with DCNS technology. The first of these will be rolled out from Mazagaon Dock Ltd by 2015. From then on, one submarine every nine months will be rolled out.
The entire delivery will be completed by 2018.
As part of the deal with DCNS, the French submarine builder has committed to increase the scope of indigenisation by setting up joint ventures with Indian companies to manufacture different components. DCNS, which has signed joint ventures with three companies, including SEC, will be teaming up with another 30 companies for the Scorpene project.
State-owned Mazagaon Dock, which is making four of these submarines, has already achieved hull manufacturing capabilities for the submarines through DCNS technology transfer. The shipbuilder is slated to complete the hulls for all the six submarines by the year end.
The facility at SEC, which is engaged in manufacture of aerospace and defence products, will be making 14 key components that can be fitted directly into the submarines. The components include ballast vent valves, high pressure air cylinders, hull hatches and weapon handling systems.
The 1500-sq-mt SEC workshop is already set to deliver the first of cofferdam door coamings for the submarines.
Offset policy:
The Union Minister of State for Defence, Mr M.M. Pallam Raju, who inaugurated the facility, said India was re-building its lost skill sets for submarine building with French technology.
He said Indian companies had already received orders worth Rs 20,000 crore under the defence offset policy. The Ministry was constantly tweaking the policy as “our aim is to make it an enabling policy”, he said.
Mr Francois Richier, French Ambassador to India, said the two countries were keen on taking forward their engagement in the defence sector.
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