Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday reviewed the progress of the indigenous submarine construction project — better known as Project 75 — and other ongoing warship building projects including P-15 B class stealth destroyers, at the State-run Mazagon Docks limited (MDl) here.
Jaitely, who was accompanied by Navy chief Admiral R K Dhowan during his visit to the MDl, inaugurated the Mazdock Modernisation Project (MMP), which would significantly enhance the warship and submarine construction capability of the shipyard.The major components created under MMP include a new wet basin with level-luffing cranes, 300 ton goliath crane, module workshop, stores building, shipyard transporter and cradle & assembly shop at a cost of Rs800 crore approx.
The Project-75 is a very important project for the country and Indian Navy. As many as six state-of-the-art submarines fitted with latest equipment are being built at MDl, Mumbai under collaboration with M/s DCNS France, giving a massive boost to the indigenous submarine construction capability of the country.
“With all the impediments & material hurdles resolved, the construction of the submarines is progressing on schedule to meet the planned delivery schedule of September, 2016,” a Ministry of Defence press release stated.Currently, first three submarines of the project are in outfitting phase, and the systems of the first submarine are being ‘Set to Work’. The Project is being reviewed at regular intervals at all levels at Naval Headquarters and MoD to gear up for the launch of the first submarine in September 2015.
“Preparations to induct these submarines are in progress and the selected crew has commenced training. The submarines will be initially based at Mumbai and shifted to operational base at Karwar after completion of trials. Necessary impetus is also being given by the government to create associated shore support facilities as per the long Term Infrastructure Perspective Plan,” the release added”