The French government has offered India a significant nuclear submarine deal, which might provide the Indian Navy, which is currently modernizing, another boost. France has agreed to join India’s plans to build six nuclear submarines and has also promised to transfer conventional technology from its Barracuda-class nuclear submarine program as part of the agreement.
Big Boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat
If the Indian Navy accepts France’s proposal, it will be another feather in the cap of the Indian government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Make in India) initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian Navy plans to purchase six nuclear-powered submarines through the Project 75 Alpha program, which is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Make in India) initiative. The project was approved by the Indian government in February 2015.
These submarines were to be designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design, with construction set to begin in 2023-24 at the Shipbuilding Centre in Visakhapatnam. The first submarine was supposed to enter service in 2032, according to the original schedule.
France’s offer to India is similar to one it made to Brazil earlier this year, which is also developing its first nuclear submarine with French help. The French offer to India includes a revamped design for a new submarine class based on its Barracuda-class submarine. This new submarine will be powered by pump-jet propulsion and a 190 MW pressurized water reactor being developed by the state-owned nuclear company BARC in collaboration with Russian state-owned companies.
Setback For China
This development may come as a rude awakening for China, which had been shaken just a few days before when the United States (US) pledged to provide five nuclear submarines to Australia as part of the AUKUS deal. With India and Australia both on the verge of receiving nuclear submarines for their respective navies, China may find it difficult to maintain its dominance in the Indo-Pacific region in the future.
To crack the SSB Interview and join the Indian Army as an Officer, You can join our SSB interview live classes batch and we recommend you to Enroll SSB INTERVIEW ONLINE COURSE. Trusted by thousands of defence aspirants.
Also read:
