New Delhi, September 13, 2005, Girja Shankar Kaura (Tribune News Service)

The signing of the deal between India and France for transfer of technology to construct the highly sophisticated Scorpene submarines, manufactured by Armaris, a joint venture between Thales and DCN, at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai, signals the start of a new era for the Indian Navy.

The approximately $ 2.4 billion dollar deal, out of which the Thales' share would be worth 300 million Euros, would not only plug a major gap in the country’s defence preparedness but also provide India with the expertise to eventually manufacture the submarines indigenously.

Defence experts point out that the availability of the Scorpene submarines with the Navy would also provide the country with the much-needed push to eventually emerge as a major regional superpower. The Indian Navy already has in place its blueprint to project India as a major power, especially in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

The Navy which has been desperate for the fleet upgrade would particularly be happy with the signing of the deal. Although it would still take at least six years for the first of the six submarines to roll out of the Mazagon Docks, but it would come in handy as by the same time the first of the six or seven of the Navy’s present fleet would in a position to be phased out. The Navy at present has a fleet of 16 diesel-electric submarines.

The Scorpene is equipped with six bow-located torpedo tubes providing salvo launch capability. The submarine’s weapons include anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedoes and anti-surface missiles. Eighteen torpedoes and missiles can be carried at a time and the handling and loading of weapons is automated.

The SUBTICS combat management system, which would be provided by the Thales besides other warfare equipment, comes with up to six multifunction common consoles and a centrally situated tactical table. The combat management system is composed of a command and tactical data handling system, a weapon control system and an integrated suite of acoustic sensors with an interface to a set of air surface detection sensors and to the integrated navigation system. The system can also download data from external sources.

The ship would also have underwater sensors, communication and optronics systems and electronic warfare systems.

It can hold a total company of 31 men with a standard watch team of nine. The vessel is especially equipped with all necessary systems to provide vital supplies, water, provisions and regeneration of the atmosphere to ensure the survival of all crew for seven days.