Scorpenes for India

India is to begin assembling Franco-Spanish Scorpene attack submarines as part of plan to boost its naval power and military-industrial know-how. Production started this week at the Mumbai-based Mazagaon Dock naval shipyard. The 2.4bn euro deal to build an initial six diesel submarines was signed in October 2005 with Armaris, a subsidiary of France?s Thales group and Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN). The agreement also includes the sale of 36 Exocet-type anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles.

This is only phase one of the project since India plans to build 18 more indigenous submarines. The Scorpene, jointly developed by DCN and Spain?s Navantia, is a 67-metre-long vessel designed for attack and interception. With the Scorpene, India is hoping to bring its fleet up to date to match challenges from rivals Pakistan and China.