L&T And Spain’s Navantia Jointly Bid For $5 Billion Submarine Tender From Indian Navy

On Monday, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) informed that it signed a Teaming Agreement (known as TA) with Spain-based firm Navantia for successfully submitting a techno-commercial bid for the P75 submarine program of the Indian Navy.

The deal was signed in the presence of S N Subrahmanyan, the L&T CEO and MD, and Augustin Alvarez Blanco, the Naval Construction VP and Member of the Board — Navantia.

Subrahmanyan said that L&T is proud to collaborate with Navantia for such a prestigious program with great strategic importance for the country’s security. Navantia’s 300-year-old proven track record in naval construction and technical expertise extends a competitive advantage in such a program. It offers Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology (better known as BEST) and ecologically Green AIP solution.

India’s L&T and Spain’s Navantia sign a pact to jointly bid for P75i project of India to build submarines. pic.twitter.com/9RLVc6taiR

— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) July 10, 2023

The partnership was established a month after Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders – the only other qualified domestic major (in India) for the tender – and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp signed a deal to participate in the bidding.

In March 2023, the Centre approved a budget of Rs 56,000 crore for the navy, which has about 16 conventional subs, 11 of which are over two decades old, alongside two indigenous nuclear-powered subs. Project 75 (I) needs its Indian bidder to collaborate with a Foreign Collaborator (referred to as FC) and execute the program for the successful delivery of six traditional subs empowered with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) while managing to achieve targeted Indigenous Content.

The project is expected to be valued at over Euro 4.8 billion and is India’s largest defence acquisition project. This would be followed by a 30-year life cycle sustenance contract with a similar value. The P75 (I) would be the first mission to be processed under the Strategic Partnership (SP) model of acquiring the Ministry of Defence.

Per the deal, Navantia would execute the design of P75 (I) subs based on its S80 class subs, the first of which was launched in 2021 and is going through sea trials before delivery to the Spanish Navy by the end of this year. Blanco stated that it gives great joy to be the design and technology partner for P75 (I). The firm will also work with L&T for the Landing Platform Dock (abbreviated LPD) program, whose tender is much awaited.

With two such prestigious programs for the Indian Navy, Navantia is extremely proud to be making a crucial contribution toward fulfilling the defence requirements of India, a nation with which Spain shares a wonderful relationship.

Besides S80 class, Navantia has been involved in the design and the construction of Scorpéne class of subs with DCNS (Now Naval Group) of France, which have reportedly been exported to Malaysia and Chile. Navantia has been involved in the Scorpene submarines (Kalvari class) constructed in India, including handholding of the Indian yard.

The P75 (I) program calls for integrating an AIP system.

Navantia’s exceptional 3rd Generation AIP solution is the world’s most advanced and efficient AIP system. It is also compact, easiest to maintain, exploit, and environment-friendly. It operates on bioethanol as a source of hydrogen known to be cost-efficient, readily available, and doesn’t call for special infrastructure, as mentioned by L&T in a stock exchange filing.

Navantia and L&T seek cooperation in other military programs and green energy opportunities, including offshore wind via the Navantia Seanergies division.

Reference: Indian Express, The Hindu, Business Today

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Source: Maritime Shipping News