Navy finds defects in Scorpene submarine; one more year of delay

New Delhi, June 15, 2019: Project-75, which involves building six Scorpene submarines in Mazagon Dock (MDL), Mumbai, had already been running five years late by the time the first one, INS Kalvari, was commissioned on December 14, 2017.  With the navy reporting a host of problems in the second vessel, INS Khanderi, the project has now slipped by at least one more year. The navy has refused to commission the Khanderi into service until all its defects and deficiencies are fully rectified. The defence ministry has fully supported the navy’s insistence that MDL and its technology partner, French warship builder Naval Group, deliver a fully seaworthy and battle-worthy vessel. “The liability of delivering a fully functional submarine is that of Naval Group. If we accept the boat with shortcomings, the liability would be on us,” said a senior admiral. The most worrying problem the navy discovered during the Khanderi’s sea trials was a killer defect for a submarine: Its engines and propellers were emitting an unduly high level of noise. For the navy, which is making do with just 14 conventional submarines against a requirement of 24, the INS Khanderi delay extends a dangerous operational void.

 Source: Business Standard


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