MDL submits bid to defence ministry to build 3 submarines for Navy

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence has received bids from Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL) for the construction of three submarines for the Indian Navy, aimed at bolstering naval operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to sources, MDL has submitted bids for the construction of these submarines as part of the “Make in India” initiative, based in Mumbai.

The Indian Navy obtained clearance for the procurement of these submarines in July of this year, just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France.

The addition of these three new submarines will supplement the six submarines ordered in 2005. The initial contract involved the acquisition of six Scorpene-class submarines from Naval Group, with manufacturing undertaken by MDL through technology transfer.

The commissioning of these submarines has been an ongoing process, with the first in the series, INS Kalvari, entering service in December 2017, and the fifth, INS Vagir, joining the fleet in January 2023.

The sixth submarine, Vagsheer, is currently undergoing trial phases and is anticipated to be delivered to the Navy in early 2024.

Notably, the three additional submarines are expected to feature a higher indigenous content and will be equipped with the DRDO-developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, enhancing their endurance and overall capabilities.

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