France To Offer Nuclear Submarines To India
Acquiring latest technology for SSGNs has been a priority for India for many years. Our own indigenous programme for six SSNs is in the final design stage. The Navy needs these submarines at the earliest. Ideally we should be having 18cx SSGNs that is 6 each for the Eastern and Western Naval Command and 3 each for the Southern Naval Command and Andaman Command.
These nuclear submarines will patrol and defend the deep blue Ocean. To defend the shallow continental Shelf we should ideally have the AIP fitted 36x Conventional submarines ( 12 each for the WNC and ENC and 6 each for the SNC and ANC). In addition should be the 12x SSBNs lurking at their designated depths at various places to provide the second strike capability.
Now the French have come up with the offer for the Barracuda nuclear powered submarines. This is the consequence of regular deep consultations with France to strengthen the military cooperation. The French are expected to offer the Barracudas with a Make in India element.
To give the Indian Navy formidable sea denial capability in the Indian Ocean Region and to exercise a credible military presence in the Indo-Pacific Region by 2930 we do need to have a few SSGNs in service out of the 18 talked of above.
Coming close after the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, this reported French offer to provide India the knowhow to make nuclear submarines has the potential to establish France as India’s second pre-eminent Defence partner, the other being Russia.
This is the first time that a nuclear-powered attack submarine technology would be offered to India by a Western Country. In the past, Russia and the erstwhile Soviet Union have given this to India both directly in the form of leased nuclear-powered attack submarines and indirectly in the form of helping out with our SSBNs.
India has also signed a reported $3 Billion deal in 2019 for the lease of another SSGN of the Akula class to the Indian Navy, making it the only navy other than those of the P5 countries to operate nuclear attack submarine.
France too needs a more committed friend, smarting from the Australian cancellation of a mega deal for 12 conventional submarines while accepting the American offer under the AUKUS umbrella. The two sides have been interacting deeply and France has repeatedly declared India as the cornerstone of its strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
The Barracuda submarine is produced by the Naval Group, which is currently engaged in delivering the contract to build six Scorpene class diesel-electric submarines at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), Mumbai, for the Indian Navy.
The best Scenario for India would be to go for additional 6x Scorpenes at MDL/ and a private shipyard. 6Iindian designed Submarines at MDL, 6x SSGNs of Barricuda class with Make in India at a private shipyard and 6x SSGNs at Vishakhapatnam as part of on going project.
