India Shelves Plan for More DCNS Submarine
Following the leak of secret data about Scorpene submarine capabilities, in ‘The Australian’ newspaper last month, India is believed to have decided not to let French naval contractor DCNS a fresh proposal for three new submarines, as per a report in the Reuters.
The DCNS is building six Scorpenes in Mumbai’s Mazgaon Docks shipyard. The trial of one of the submarines was conducted in May this year. All six will be inducted into Indian Navy by 2020.
An unnamed defence ministry official has told Reuters that New Delhi will not go for more submarines from the French company.
Quoting the official, Reuters reported: “We had an agreement for six, and six it will remain.” A spokesman of the Indian Navy confirmed that the orders would not be placed for three more submarines.
"Indian has ordered only six Scorpene submarines and orders have not been placed for three more as reported by some media. Therefore question of cancellation does not arise," the spokesman said
However DCNS has said there were talks going on for more submarines, even as the Indian Defence Ministry denied that any such negotiations were on.
