New Delhi. In a boost to Make in India in the defence industry, five weeks since April 21 when the Industry Day organised by Spanish state-owned company known for its design and construction of high technology military and civilian vessels Navantia saw it holding more than 100 side meetings and submitting 380 Requests for Information (RFIs) specific to P75(I) submarine project.
The Navantia-organised programme saw participation by more than 200 Indian companies, and the RFIs receiving companies were 90 per cent Indian and they cover 80 per cent of the P75(I) submarine cost items.
Navantia is participating in the P75(I) project using the basis of the S80 plus, the only 3000 t AIP submarine currently under construction worldwide.
“This baseline is very close to the requirements of the Indian Navy, possibly the closest among any possible. For this reason, technical effort at this stage is minimum and Navantia is focusing in other aspects such as the indigenisation of major equipment and materials, and Transfer of Technology (ToT) options,” said Pablo Martínez de Rituerto, Navantia’s Project Director for P75(I).
At the Industry Day in April, Navantia informed that they had some areas with no Indian supplier identified, and that they planned the submission of Purchase Technical Specifications. Despite the COVID-19 situation, Navantia and their Indian partners have continued working online, which has proved to be a very effective solution, enabling an average of three to four meetings per day, with significant reductions in travel time and cost savings. More than 100 side meetings have been organised, and all the areas with no Indian supplier have been covered.
150 Purchase Technical Specifications (PTSs) have been submitted in the last five weeks together with nearly 380 Requests for Information (RFIs), 92 per cent to Indian companies, enabling Navantia to gain a high understanding of the Indian industry and its capabilities. This information covers 80 per cent of the P75(I) submarine cost items.
The indigenisation effort still continues with the target of achieving 500 PTSs and nearly 1500 RFIs within the next three to four months. This activity includes the consultation to current S-80P key suppliers, to promote either fabrication in India, or the incorporation of Indian components.
Pablo Martinez de Rituerto assures “Navantia is fully committed to India’s P75(I) project, and is willing to provide the required “Know How” and “Know Why” through a Technology Transfer programme to achieve permanent design, construction and maintenance capabilities in India”.
This programme leverages previous successful ToT experiences, for example in Australia where in June 2020 the Commonwealth of Australia signed a Strategic Agreement with local company Navantia Australia Pty Ltd. recognising it as a Design Authority for four classes of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships.
