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| Europe |
| Work begins on first Scorpene submarine for India |
| 2006-04-29 |
| CHERBOURG, France - FranceÂ’s state shipbuilder DCN began on Friday manufacturing parts for the first of six Scorpene submarines ordered by India. New Delhi agreed in October 2005 to buy six of the Franco-Spanish submarines for 2.4 billion euros. The deal is a technology transfer agreement: the Scorpenes will be assembled in India, but the Direction des Compagnies Navales (DCN) will produce various key parts that require equipment unavailable at Indian shipyards. Some 200 technicians and engineers at the DCN will be working full time on the submarine parts for the next eight years, the projectÂ’s director, Xavier lÂ’HelgoualcÂ’h, said at a ceremony to mark the cutting of the first plate in the northern port of Cherbourg. The Scorpene is a 1,750-tonne (1,929-ton) submarine, 67 metres (220 feet) long and capable of diving to a depth of 300 metres. Designed for coastal defence, it can stay at sea for up to 45 days with a crew of 31.It is equipped with modern sonar detection equipment, six torpedo tubes and missile launchers; these are among the parts being produced in France, along with the propellers, hatches and front and back bulkheads. DCN developed the submarine jointly with the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia (formerly Izar), with the French defence group Thales providing the electronics. Work on assembling the first Scorpene is scheduled to begin in December 2006 at the Mazagaon shipyard in Mumbai (Bombay). The vessel should be ready by 2012, the Indian defence ministry said, with the remaining five being delivered at intervals of one per year thereafter. India will be the third country to equip itself with Scorpenes, following Chile and Malaysia. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 Nope, first they came for the Christians who sympathised with the Jews. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-04-29 15:43 |
| #5 "First they came for the Jews" JFM? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-04-29 11:36 |
| #4 At this time 1969 the French governemnt had not had time to brainwash the citizens gainst Israel. There was sympathy and, after the Six Days admiration for the valiant country who had just crushed vastly more numerous enemies. Also in the Army there weres till vivid memories of the de facto alliance from the fifties. One of the consequences of Cherbourg was the purging of Israel's sympathizers from teh army. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-04-29 08:26 |
| #3 The Indian Navy wants a second sub production line - the Russian Amur subs were favored but HDW is now pushing hard with their type 214. India operates two HDW type 209s and many in the Navy would prefer these to the Russian boat. One advantage the Russian subs have is capability to fire Klub and Brahmos cruise missiles, which the Indians have begun manufactuing (and have probably modified for extended range). The Project 17 destroyers being built at Magazon shipyard are being fitted with VLS cells for these missiles. They will probably arm the land atack versions of these cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. Reports from Russian media are that work has recommenced on two "Schuka" type nuclear attack subs that were discontinued a few years ago. These two SSNs will apparenltly be leased to the Indian Navy. The Indian Engineering Firm Larsen and Taubro is reportedly fabricating the hull of the ATV (the Indian nuclear submarine project) at its Hazira shipyard. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-29 08:21 |
| #2 Great story Grom! |
| Posted by: Ptah 2006-04-29 08:09 |
| #1 A word of warning Indians. Don't pay them a penny until the staff is actually delivered . |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-04-29 07:29 |