A preliminary investigation has revealed that the Scorpene submarine data leak took place at the office of the naval defence contractor DCNS in France and not in India, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, said here on Saturday.
“A high-level committee is inquiring into the leak from our side, and similarly, DCNS and the French government have also launched an inquiry. Based on this inquiry, we will see what needs to be done — whether any mitigation measures are required or not,” Admiral Lanba told reporters at the launch of the guided missile destroyer ship INS Mormugao at Mazagaon dockyard.
Project 75-I He denied rumours that Project 75-I of the Navy was being withheld after the Scorpene leak, and said the Defence Ministry was yet to decide a strategic partnership model for the project, following which the project would move forward. “The Ministry has decided that it [75-I] is going to be a part of the strategic partnership project. We will have an overseas technology partner; the committee was formed last year and has identified the Indian shipyards that can participate in the bid,” he said.
Under Project 75-I, the plans to build six submarines, including the Scorpene class submarine, in the shortlisted dockyards.
A part of the Centre’s Make-in-India initiative, the cost of the project — according to sources — is estimated to be Rs. 60,000 crore.
Indigenous steel Admiral Lanba said the shipbuilding activities in the country were moving to an integrated construction procedure which would reduce the time taken to build a vessel. There was a 100 per cent shift towards the use of indigenous steel in shipbuilding projects across the country, he said.
He said the shipbuilding yards should increase their productivity and meet the deadlines followed by the shipbuilding sector.
About INS Mormugao , which is the second of the four ships being constructed by Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) under Project 15-B (Bravo), Admiral Lanba said the ship, a state-of-the-art destroyer and “one of the best in the world”, had 68 per cent indigenous content.
INS Mormugao, designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, will be propelled by four gas turbines in combined gas and gas (COGAG) configuration and is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots with a maximum endurance of 4,000 nautical miles.
The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea-keeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability.
These ships will be equipped to carry and operate two multi-role helicopters, a rail-less helo traversing system for efficient helicopter handling onboard and also possess the capability to vertically launch surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) for long-distance engagement of shore and sea-based targets.
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