TKMS or Navantia? Indian Navy Faces Difficult Decision on P75I Submarine Project Amidst AIP Compliance Issues

The Indian Navy's Project-75I submarine tender, aimed at acquiring six advanced diesel-electric submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems, has reached a critical juncture.

While anticipation builds around the announcement of the winner between Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Spain's Navantia, the program faces potential legal hurdles due to non-compliance with the AIP system standards specified in the Request for Proposal (RFP).

Both contenders, TKMS with its U-214NG submarine and Navantia with its S-80 class, have showcased their AIP systems, but in ways that raise questions about adherence to the Navy's stringent technical requirements.

TKMS has demonstrated a well-established AIP system, but only on their smaller 2000-ton submarines. The U-214NG, proposed for India, is a larger 3000-ton class, requiring an upscaled AIP system that has not yet been validated for this size. While the technology itself is proven, its application to the larger model necessitates further scaling and testing.

Navantia, on the other hand, 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, is not expected to be demonstrated until 2026. This delay in providing a sea-proven AIP system directly on a submarine falls short of the immediate operational readiness criteria set by the RFP.

The Indian Navy appears to be leaning towards TKMS due to their operational AIP technology, albeit on a smaller scale. However, Navantia is pushing for a decision based on cost considerations, arguing that neither company has fully met the RFP's AIP technical demands.

Defence analysts have 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," they stated, pointing out that both companies could claim unfair treatment since neither has met the exact specifications.

This could lead to a protracted legal dispute, significantly delaying Project-75I and potentially forcing the Navy to either re-issue the tender or provide compelling technical justification for their choice to withstand legal scrutiny.

This situation underscores the complexities of high-stakes defence procurement, where technical compliance, national security needs, and legal implications are intertwined. The Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence now face a difficult decision, needing to navigate these challenges while ensuring the strategic submarine capabilities of the nation are not compromised by legal or technical disputes.

 

[JB]

Under the circumstances the contract should be amended such that both TKMS and Navatia are declared winners with each responsible for 6 for a total to 12 submarines. It would require additional funding but there will be economies of scale and India would have achieved the distinction of having twice the number of submarines in the same timeframe while adhering to contractual requirements and avoiding costly litigation.

 

[PKPRS]

We have to wait and see what happens in Germany after election, Spainish Navantia’s AIP is one of the best, we could always use that if German SUB doesn’t work out.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

This P75I of the Navy and MRFA of the Air Force should be totally cancelled, and we should concentrate on indigenous P76, P77, Tejas Mk2, and AMCA.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Only way out is for navy to remove the clause for a sea proven AIP from the tender

 

[abhinav srivastava]

We have tech parameters of German, French, Russian subs also we build our own nuclear subs. Why not expedite Project 76I and make 75-80% indigenous subs?

 

[Anant]

Only way out is for navy to remove the clause for a sea proven AIP from the tender

Yes, but the problem with that is that you would then have someone like Russia challenging the removal, since it was this requirement that eliminated them to begin with. Well, that, and the Russian decision to downgrade their offering from a new design based on the Lada- and Improved Kilo-classes to what was essentially the export variant of the Improved Kilo design from the early 2000s.

 

[Tailless Baboon]

Tell the Spanish to quickly test their on a submarine if it's tested on a land based asset and quickly conclude the deal.
No one has seen tomorrow.

 

[Sparkle Studio]

Most tender documents are either tailor made to be met by a favored vender or worded to be so vague that there is enough room to maneuver after bids are opened. Baseless speculation here, MoD know what they are doing.

 

[Anant]

Tell the Spanish to quickly test their on a submarine if it's tested on a land based asset and quickly conclude the deal.
No one has seen tomorrow.

For that to happen, the third ship of the S80-class has to be completed, and that isn't happening until 2026-27 at the earliest, with a more likely time period being around 2030.

 

[kumar]

We can discuss the extent of tech transfer now with TKMS, then cancel the tender and go for a G2G deal.

 

[Ronin]

This P75I of the Navy and MRFA of the Air Force should be totally cancelled, and we should concentrate on indigenous P76, P77, Tejas Mk2, and AMCA.

and wait for how long, we don't have time by our side, even the Pakistan have many submarines with AIP.

 

[INDIAN]

Its mean any foreign nation can jeopardies Indian military preparedness by just going into the court.
Choosing military hardware not only depends on cost its also a geo political factor.

 

[Sandeep]

We have tech parameters of German, French, Russian subs also we build our own nuclear subs. Why not expedite Project 76I and make 75-80% indigenous subs?

They are still designing the indigenous submarines that’s why. Also they haven’t even developed a prototype yet.

 

[Sandeep]

and wait for how long, we don't have time by our side, even the Pakistan have many submarines with AIP.

Their Chinese submarines are useless. They are facing major problems with the technology and equipment creating major issues and faults like their engine issues, submarine software issues and unreliable technology.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to quickly make a decision as this project has been delayed for over a decade. We can’t keep on delaying the project and if necessary we should just force a decision with Germany.

If the courts get involved then it will compromise the exact type of technology and equipment that we want along with its capabilities for scrutiny. This will harm our national security and it might end up facing similar problems with the Rafale deal.