Mumbai/New Delhi: In a significant development which aims to bolster India's submarine capabilities, Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) has signed a Teaming Agreement (TA) with Spain's state-owned ship-builder, Navantia, to jointly submit a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy's P75 project.
Under the agreement, Navantia will utilize its expertise to design the P75(1) submarines based on its S80 Class, which includes the successful launch of the first submarine in 2021, currently undergoing sea trials before its delivery to the Spanish Navy later this year.
Navantia's involvement in submarine design and construction includes the renowned Scorpene Class, developed in collaboration with DCNS (now Naval Group) of France, which has been exported to Chile and Malaysia.
Navantia was part of the Scorpene submarines, the Kalvari Class, built in India including handholding of the Indian yard.
The signing of the agreement took place in New Delhi, with the presence of L&T CEO & MD S. N. Subrahmanyan, Navantia's Vice-President Augustin Alvarez Blanco, Spanish Ambassador to India Jose Maria Ridao Dominguez, Spanish Defence Attache Capt. (Navy) Fernando Alvarez, and other senior officials from both companies.
"Navantia's glorious 300-year-old track record in naval construction & technical expertise gives us a competitive advantage in this programme and offer the Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology (BEST) and environmentally Green AIP solution. We are committed to providing the most contemporary solution for the Indian Navy's requirements at a competitive price," said Subrahmanyam.
"It gives us pleasure to be the design and technology partner for P75(I). We are also in collaboration with L&T for the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) program whose tender is eagerly awaited. With these two prestigious programs for the Indian Navy, Navantia is proud to be making a key contribution towards fulfilling the defence needs of India, a nation with which Spain shares excellent relationship," said Blanco.
The P75(I) program, valued at over Euro 4.8 billion, requires the Indian bidder to partner with a Foreign Collaborator (FC) to deliver six conventional submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) and achieve a targeted Indigenous Content.
Additionally, a 30-year lifecycle sustenance contract is anticipated. The P75(I) program is the first to be processed under India's ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model of defence acquisition.
L&T and Navantia signed an MoU for the program on 11 April 2023 at Madrid, which has now culminated in this TA.
Navantia's 3rd Generation AIP solution, to be integrated into the P75(I) submarines, is considered the most advanced, efficient, compact, and environmentally friendly AIP system in the world.
It utilizes bioethanol as a source of hydrogen, offering cost efficiency, easy availability, and eliminating the need for special infrastructure. The high density of hydrogen in ethanol enhances the AIP system's efficiency, while the liquid form of ethanol removes the risks associated with storing hydrogen.
Furthermore, the wide availability of ethanol enables the system to be refuelled anywhere in the world.
Beyond the submarine project, L&T and Navantia are exploring opportunities for cooperation in other military programs and green energy initiatives, including offshore wind power, through Navantia's Seanergies division.
With inputs from agencies