SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
As anticipation builds around the announcement of the winner for India’s Project-75I submarine tender, the program might soon face legal hurdles due to non-compliance with the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system standards specified in the Request for Proposal (RFP) by the Indian Navy.
The tender pits Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) with its U-214NG submarine against Spain’s Navantia, which offers the S-80 class. Both contenders have showcased their AIP systems but in ways that have raised questions about adherence to the Navy’s technical requirements.
TKMS has demonstrated a well-established AIP system, but this has been on their smaller 2000-ton submarines. The U-214NG, intended for India, is a larger 3000-ton class, necessitating an upscaled AIP system that has yet to be validated for this size. This means while the technology is proven, its application to the larger model requires further scaling and testing.
On the other hand, Navantia has only showcased its AIP system via a land-based prototype. The actual integration into a submarine, specifically the third of the S-80 class for the Spanish Navy, won’t be demonstrated until 2026. This delay in providing a sea-proven AIP system directly on a submarine does not meet the immediate operational readiness criteria set by the RFP.
The Indian Navy appears to lean towards TKMS due to their operational AIP technology, albeit on a smaller scale. However, Navantia is pushing for the decision to be based on cost considerations, arguing that neither company has fully met the RFP’s AIP technical demands.
Defence analyst Ranesh Rajan, in an exclusive interview with idrw.org, highlighted potential legal complications. “If the contract is awarded to one, there’s a high likelihood of the other party challenging the decision in court,” Rajan stated. He pointed out that both companies could claim unfair treatment since neither has met the exact specifications, potentially leading to a legal dispute.
Rajan further elaborated that such a scenario could significantly delay Project-75I. “If this goes to court, it might force the Navy to either fail both bids and reissue the tender, which could waste another 3-4 years, or they must provide compelling technical justification for their choice to withstand legal scrutiny,” he added.
The situation underscores the complexities of high-stakes defense procurement, where technical compliance, national security needs, and legal implications intertwine. The Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence are now at a crossroads, needing to navigate these challenges while ensuring the strategic submarine capabilities of the nation are not compromised by legal or technical disputes.
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