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Having co-designed an indigenous, 25-tonne, light tank, the DRDO has placed a development order on L&T to build the first prototype, say Army sources.

Meanwhile, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) — the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) apex body for capital purchases — has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), or in-principle agreement, for seven light tank regiments, each equipped with 45 tanks.

The AoN requires L&T — the MoD’s development partner — to build one regiment of light tanks, while the MoD acquires the other six regiments under the “Make” procedure.

The light tank will have a hull, co-developed by DRDO and L&T, that will house an 800 horsepower (HP) engine optimised for high altitudes. The engine will be provided by German firm MTU, which is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce.

Mounted on this hull will be a 105-millimetre gun turret, procured ready-built from Belgian firm, John Cockerill.

It is intended to marry the DRDO’s expertise in tank design, created while developing the Arjun tank, with the heavy engineering capability of L&T, which is already building the K-9 Vajra self-propelled artillery gun system for the army.

The indigenous light tank was initially planned to be built on the chassis of the K-9 Vajra. This, however, was ruled out because the Army placed a weight limit of 25 tonnes on the light tank, while the Vajra’s heavy chassis would take its weight to at least 34-35 tonnes.

The armoured challenge from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Ladakh is centred on China’s new light tank, the agile and versatile ZTQ 105 — also known as the Type 15 –developed by China’s North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) and unveiled during the Zhuhai Air Show in 2016.

The ZTQ 105 has a 105-mm rifled gun that can destroy enemy tanks at ranges of two-to-three kilometres (km). It also fires anti-tank guided missiles to knock out tanks at ranges of five km.

The Indian Army currently uses Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks on the Sino-Indian border. But these hefty, 42-45-tonne main battle tanks are designed for the plains. Movement is difficult for them on steep and narrow mountain roads.

There are also limitations on how much their heavy 120-mm guns can be depressed or elevated, sometimes preventing them from engaging targets on hilltops or in valleys. That is why the Army took only small numbers of T-72 and T-90 tanks into Ladakh to counter the Chinese intrusions in 2020, and used them only sparingly.

In contrast, the Army has a formidable combat tradition of using light tanks in the mountains. In 1944, it used Stuart and Sherman tanks in the battle of Kohima. In 1948, these same tanks pushed back Pakistan forces in the Zoji-la pass. Against China in 1962, the Army used light AMX-13 tanks in the battle of Gurung Hill near Pangong Tso and deployed them in Bomdila and Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh. In the 1971 Bangladesh campaign, French AMX-13 and Soviet PT-76 tanks played a stellar role in the battle of Garibpur.

Although the K-9 Vajra artillery gun is designed for use in plains terrain, the Sino-Indian border tensions in 2020 saw a full regiment of these long-range, self-propelled guns deployed in eastern Ladakh, to increase the army’s long-range firepower.

Their successful deployment prompted the Army to consider diverting significant numbers of K-9 Vajras for use in mountainous terrain. This requires L&T to build 100 more K-9 Vajras; as well as induction of the Ordnance Factory Board’s indigenous 155 mm, 45 calibre Dhanush howitzers, and imported M777 ultralight guns.

To cater for this enhanced firepower, L&T has built 100 K-9 Vajras in Hazira, near Surat, with technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense. It handed over the 100th SP howitzer on February 18, 2021, ahead of its contracted date.

Now the MoD is pursuing the “Vajra repeat programme”, which requires L&T to build another 100 K-9 Vajra howitzers. L&T’s proposal is currently before the MoD’s “technical evaluation committee.” The commercial bid is likely to be opened this month.

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According to L&T’s JD Patil, the Light Tank will be ready for testing by mid-2023. “The development is on at full speed,” he said.

The current design being developed by DRDO and L&T is completely ab initio, and not taking Vajra design. While L&T is involved in the development work, it is not assured of a role in the production phase. Developed equipment has to undergo field evaluation trials and emerge successful for the induction clearance, and then production ordering process begins.

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Submarine launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are a relatively new concept with few nations around the world having the capability to operate such systems. They are also a complex design and development project given that the drone will need to navigate through water before taking to the air for flight.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) signed a memorandum of understanding with NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) at the `Drone Mahotsav’ event held in the capital, on 27-28 May 2022, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This will comprise of an underwater component and an airborne component and will be one of the most futuristic product development efforts to come out of India. Globally, the United States has deployed this capability on their submarines to close a viable ‘kill chain’ for their underwater launched weapons to target surface and land targets,” sources said. The Indian Navy had recently floated a requirement for such a system through the Defence Research and Development (DRDO) Technology Development Fund.

L&T brings in its significant capability in underwater systems to the project, having worked extensively on Indian nuclear armed submarines of the Arihant-class. NewSpace Research, which recently closed a Rs 150 core series ‘A’ funding from Indian venture funds, is already working on different UAV projects. This includes a joint development with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to develop a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) UAV and an air launched swarm drone system.

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Submarine launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are a relatively new concept with few nations around the world having the capability to operate such systems. They are also a complex design and development project given that the drone will need to navigate through water before taking to the air for flight.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) signed a memorandum of understanding with NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) at the `Drone Mahotsav’ event held in the capital which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This will comprise of an underwater component and an airborne component and will be one of the most futuristic product development efforts to come out of India. Globally, the United States has deployed this capability on their submarines to close a viable ‘kill chain’ for their underwater launched weapons to target surface and land targets,” sources said. The Indian Navy had recently floated a requirement for such a system through the Defence Research and Development (DRDO) Technology Development Fund.

L&T brings in its significant capability in underwater systems to the project, having worked extensively on Indian nuclear armed submarines of the Arihant-class. NewSpace Research, which recently closed a Rs 150 core series ‘A’ funding from Indian venture funds, is already working on different UAV projects. This includes a joint development with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to develop a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) UAV and an air launched swarm drone system.

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The RFP for the Project 75 (I) was sent to France’s Naval Group-DCNS, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, Germany’s Thyssenkrupp, Spain’s Navantia and South Korea’s Daewoo. As this project will be completed under the Strategic-Partnership model. All three European and Russian companies have now pulled out of this project, leaving only Navantia and Daewoo in the race.

These five companies had to choose between two Indian companies, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) or Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to manufacture these six submarines in India.

The provision was to build these six conventional submarines in the country only in a joint venture with a foreign company.

Scorpenes Under Construction

The Naval Group is making six Scorpène-class submarines in collaboration with MDL. Of these, four, the Kalvari-class submarines, have joined the Navy, the fifth is under sea-trial and the sixth Vagsheer was launched earlier this month.

These are six conventional diesel-electric submarines. AIP, ie, Air-Independent Propulsion system developed by DRDO will be retrofitted during mid-life upgrade. The advantage of AIP is that they will not need to get out of the sea again and again. That is, in a way, they are stealth-submarines. AIP allows non-nuclear submarines to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. These stealth-submarines do not need to be taken out of the sea like the diesel-electric submarines.

Background

Vagsheer — the last of six Indian-made Scorpene-class submarines — was lowered into the water for trials in Apil. The Indian Navy has six new underwater boats, four of which (Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj and Vela) are in service and the others (Vagir and Vagsheer) will be commissioned by early 2023.

Failure to conclude the construction of six more Project 75(I) conventional submarines with AIP will mean the assembly line will be idle. Technical skills to manufacture a submarine will be lost if a deal is not finalised soon.

India commenced getting its Foxtrot-class submarines from December 1967, from the then USSR. By 1974, it had eight such submarines. In 1981, New Delhi entered into an agreement with German HDW, to buy two Type 209 submarines. While these submarines — INS Shalki and INS Shankul — were being built the HDW scam broke out. The government did not use the ‘option clause’ in the agreement for the construction of two additional submarines.

By 2028-29 most of the Kilo-class submarines may be out of action. The Russian submarines have been the mainstay of the Indian fleet for the past two decades. As replacement for the old Foxtrots, India turned to Moscow and bought ten Kilo-class boats, commencing mid-1980s. The last of the Kilo-class boat – INS Sindhushastra – was commissioned in 2000. Of these, INS Sindhurakshak exploded and sank near Mumbai in 2013. India gifted the decommissioned INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy. Seven out of the eight remaining submaines have outlived their lifespan but are still functioning due to upgrades.

In February 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved a 30-year plan that envisaged two production lines – P-75 and P-75I – to make 12 submarines at two Indian shipyards.

The UPA government signed the Rs 23,653 crore P-75 deal in 2005. As per the contract, the French supplier DCNS was to deliver all the six submarines — manufactured at MDL — by 2012. Though the 30-year plan envisaged two production lines operating simultaneously, the government decided to go for only one.

The first Scorpene submarine was handed over to the Indian Navy in 2017, five years late.

The defence ministry had, in April 2021, cleared the way for the construction of six new stealth P75I submarines for the Indian Navy amid the challenges being faced by China in the Indian Ocean. The Defence Acquisition Council had given the green signal under the Strategic Partnership Model. The ministry issued the RFP in July 2021. The cost of this project named Project 75 (India) is Rs 43,000 crore.

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The Naval Group has mentioned the conditions in the request for proposal (RFP) as the reason for exiting the project.

The Ministry of Defence had in July last year issued an order to build six submarines for the Indian Navy.

The cost of this project named Project 75 (India) is Rs 43,000 crore.

In his first trip abroad this year, Prime Minister Modi will embark on a three-day visit to Germany, Denmark and France from May 2.

The RFP was sent to five big companies, including France’s Naval Group-DCNS, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, Germany’s Thyssenkrupp, Spain’s Navantia and South Korea’s Daewoo, around the world for the Project 75 (I).

These five companies had to choose between two Indian companies, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) or Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to manufacture these six submarines in India.

All three European and Russian companies have now pulled out of this project, leaving only Navantia and Daewoo in the race.

The Naval Group is making six Scorpène-class submarines in collaboration with MDL.

Of these, four, the Kalvari-class submarines, have joined the Navy, the fifth is under sea-trial and the sixth Vagsheer was launched earlier this month.

The Ministry of Defence had in April 2021 cleared the way for the construction of six new stealth submarines for the Indian Navy amid the challenges being faced by China in the Indian Ocean.

The Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had given the green signal to Project 75 (I) under the Strategic Partnership Model.

The ministry had post that in July 2021 issued RFP for six conventional stealth submarines under this project.

As this project will be completed under the Strategic-Partnership model, the Defence Ministry had also issued the RFP to MDL and L&T.

The provision was to build these six conventional submarines in the country only in a joint venture with a foreign company.

These are six conventional submarines of course, but they are AIP ie Air-Independent Propulsion Submarine.

The advantage of this is that they will not need to get out of the sea again and again like a diesel-electric submarine. That is, in a way, they are stealth-submarines.

These six submarines are Air Independent Propulsion.

Air Independent Propulsion or Air Independent Power is any marine propulsion technology that allows non-nuclear submarines to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. The advantage of this is that these stealth-submarines do not need to be taken out of the sea like the diesel-electric submarines.

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The sixth and last submarine of the Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class submarines of Project 75 was launched on 20 April at the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL). It is being manufactured jointly with the Naval Group, France. The first of the P-75 submarines was inducted into the Navy in December 2017.

The sixth submarine will now commence setting to work on various equipment and harbour trials. The crew will thereafter sail the submarine for the rigorous sea acceptance trials after which it would be delivered to the Indian Navy by late 2023.

These six submarines will add to the Navy’s underwater capability as most of the 15 conventional submarines with India are more than 25 years old.

Project 75 (India)

The decision on Project 75 (India) is getting delayed and even if it gets the go-ahead it might take another two years to begin. Project-75(I) envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines with contemporary equipment, weapons and sensors including AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state of the art countermeasure systems.

This would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project.

While P-75 is reaching the end of its cycle the contract for the next six should have been signed as it would lead to a gap of a few years again till the next set of submarine construction will start. The contract for P-75 was signed in 2005. Earlier, in 1994 India manufactured two German submarines but the gap of 11 years led to loss of this specialised skill.

Next-Gen Offshore Patrol Vessels

Goa Shipyard Limited has emerged as the leading shipyard to build the Indian Navy’s next generation off-shore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) and eight fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard.  A  contract for seven NGOPVs valued at around Rs 9,000 crore is expected to be signed with GSL while four will be built by another shipyard.

The naval off-shore patrol vessels will play a key role in protection of offshore assets, undertaking mine countermeasure operations through modular payloads and also aid special operations.

GSL has undergone various modernisation. It emerged as L1 (lowest bider) for a contract to build fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard and to build the Navy’s next generation off-shore patrol vessels.

In 2018, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved the procurement of six indigenously designed NGOPVs for the Indian Navy at an approximate cost of Rs 4,941 crore. The contract was awarded to the Anil Ambani-owned Pipavav Shipyards but was ultimately scrapped due to several delays. The defence ministry then increased the number of platforms for the Indian Navy to 11 in December 2020 and a tender worth over Rs 9,000 crore was floated, which GSL is now on the verge of bagging.

The NGOPVs will strengthen India’s maritime security as the acquisition of the advanced patrol vessels will help the navy track and counter the steady rise in the deployment of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean Region and in Indian waters.

Multi-purpose Vessels Deal with L&T

The Ministry of Defence, on 25 March, signed a contract with Indian conglomerate, Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) for the acquisition of two multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) for the Indian Navy. The Rs 887 crore deal was signed under the “Buy-Indian” category. Delivery of vessels is scheduled to commence from May 2025.

MPVs will be the first of its kind platform, constructed to provide a cost-effective solution to meet a variety of requirements of the Indian Navy. These vessels, to be built by L&T shipyard at Kattupally (Chennai), will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance and patrol, launching/ recovery of torpedoes and operation of various types of aerial, surface and underwater targets for Gunnery/ ASW firing exercises.

These vessels would also be capable of towing ships and rendering Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support with limited hospital ship capability. They will also act as a trial platform for naval weapons and sensors under development, a support platform for ISV and salvage operations, and to provide logistics support for India’s island territories.

High-speed Interceptor Boats Inducted

The Indian Navy inducted two Fast Interceptor Craft (FICs) into its fleet in Kolkata, on 16 March, to beef up its coastal security. The vessels will enable enhanced riverine patrol on the Hooghly river as well as gradually extend patrolling capability seawards.

The high-speed vessels – T323 and T324 – capable of operating in shallow waters were acquired for Sagar Prahari Bal, a unit of the Navy created post 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as part of the coastal security construct.

The high-speed vessels can operate in the Hooghly as well as in the Bay of Bengal at sand heads and can reach speed of up to 45 knots. The FICs positioned by the Indian Navy will augment the Coastal Security capability of the Indian Navy in the State of West Bengal.

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