- Milestone Achieved: The bid from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Germany’s TKMS (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems) has cleared the technical evaluation for the P-75I submarine project.
Relevance : GS 3 (Defence and Security)
- Competitor’s Bid: The bid from Larsen & Toubro and Navantia of Spain did not clear the technical evaluation.
- Project Overview: The ₹43,000 crore project involves acquiring six advanced conventional submarines, with a focus on indigenization and technological upgrades.
- Price Revision Expected: The benchmarked price was set a decade ago, and due to technological advancements, inflation, and currency fluctuations, the final cost is expected to rise significantly.
Evaluation Process:
- Compliance checks for both bids were completed in June last year as part of Field Evaluation Trials (FET).
- The bids were scrutinized by the Ministry of Defence and opened last week.
- MDL-TKMS’s bid was found technically compliant, and commercial negotiations will now begin based on the submitted price.
- Indigenous Content Requirement: The Request For Proposal (RFP) specifies that the first submarine must have 45% indigenous content, increasing to 60% for the sixth submarine.
- Key Selection Criterion: A major factor in qualifying for the P-75I is the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module, which enhances the endurance and stealth of the submarine.
- MDL-TKMS Offering: The MDL-TKMS bid is based on the Class 214 submarine design, known for its operational success and proven AIP module.
- Navantia’s Offering: Navantia has proposed a design based on the new S80 class, with the first submarine (S-81 ‘Isaac Peral’) launched in 2021 and commissioned in b.
