India to Roll Out Exclusive Repair Facility for Scorpene-Class Submarines

Undeterred by its recent data leak controversy, the Indian government will go ahead with plans to set up an exclusive repair facility for Scorpene-class submarines, in what is being seen as a major morale booster for French shipbuilder DCNS.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India will set up an exclusive repair facility for the soon-to-be-inducted Scorpene-class Submarine at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai at an estimated cost of USD 109 million. The Indian government decided to go ahead with the plan despite the huge controversy over the leak of sensitive data pertaining to the Scorpene-class Submarine in August this year.

This decision has come as a major relief for French ship building firm DCNS, which feared suffering a huge setback in India due to the data leak controversy. DCNS is reportedly eyeing an additional contract for building three more submarines for India. The company had signed a USD 3.5 billion contract in 2005 with India to jointly develop six Scorpene-class submarines.

Meanwhile, India's Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) under the chairmanship of Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, has also cleared a proposal to set up a weapons repair facility for ships in Port Blair, a highly strategic location in the Indian Ocean. The facility is being built at an estimated cost of USD 68 million. This facility would not only enable the on-site repairing of vessels and weapons at times of emergency but would also help India capture the repair market for foreign vessels crossing the Indian Ocean.

In yet another decision, the DAC has cleared a proposal aimed at strengthening the security system in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir. DAC has cleared proposals worth USD 50 million for the procurement of electronic warfare systems in the region. Apart from strengthening security and surveillance in the region, the DAC also approved a proposal to procure anti-tank guided munitions for training purposes for the army at a cost of USD 61 million.