Arun Jaitley reviews progress of submarine construction program

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday reviewed the progress of `Project 75' (indigenous submarine construction project) alongwith other ongoing warship building projects including P-15 B class stealth destroyers here.

Accompanied by Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan, Jaitley visited Mazagon Docks Limited here, a Defence release said.

The visit of the Defence Minister, within three months of his taking over, demonstrates the importance accorded by the government to the indigenous construction of submarines and warships, it said.

The minister inaugurated the Mazdock Modernisation Project (MMP), which would enhance the warship and submarine construction capability of the shipyard. Haskoning Nederland B.V. (HNBV) are consultant for this project.

The Project 75 submarine construction project is a very important project for the country and Indian Navy. Six state-of-the-art submarines fitted with latest equipment are being built at MDL, Mumbai, under collaboration with DCNS France, giving a massive boost to the indigenous submarine construction capability of the country, the release said.

With all the impediments and material hurdles resolved, the construction of submarines is progressing on schedule to meet the planned delivery schedule of September 2016, it added.

First three submarines of the project are in outfitting phase, and the systems of the first submarine are being `Set to Work', the release said. The first submarine is expected to be launched in September 2015.