thyssenkrupp to Overhaul Indian Navy Submarine
German manufacturer thyssenkrupp has been awarded a 410 Crore contract with Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) to refit the Indian Navy’s Shishumar-class non-nuclear submarine, INS Shishumar. The Medium Refit and Life Certification (MRLC) contract for the submarine will commence in October this year and is expected to be completed by 2021. The upgrade will extend the operational life of the submarine by at least 10 years.
Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, said, “We are looking forward to working with MDL to perform the deep modernization work to ensure that INS Shishumar remains a very capable combat submarine for the Indian Navy over the years to come. Our experience with the Shishumar class and the outstanding skills of MDL’s employees are the basis for the return of the submarine back to the Indian Navy in great shape.”
Dr. Gurnad Sodhi, Managing Director of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems India, added, “This contract once again reiterates our long-standing commitment to the country and is another milestone in the ‘Make in India’ defense program.”
The Indian Navy is planning subsequent overhauls of the remaining three HDW Class 209 Type 1500 assets that were commissioned between 1986 and 1994 and which form the Indian Navy’s 10th submarine squadron based in Mumbai. Supplied by thyssenkrupp, the first two submarines were assembled at the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) at Kiel, Germany, while the third and fourth submarines were manufactured by means of material packages and Transfer of Technology (ToT) at MDL, Mumbai. These were the first submarines ever to be built in India.
“thyssenkrupp has always looked at a long-term strategic vision while handling projects from eminent partner countries. We view this MRLC work in the same light and we are positive that programs like this will also translate into other partnerships with Indian players for future strategic programs,” said Oliver Burkhard, Member of the Executive Board, thyssenkrupp AG.
thyssenkrupp has maintained a strong partnership with India for over three decades with its submarines and provides full, uninterrupted logistics support to the Indian Navy in terms of spares, components and upgrades for these boats. More recently, thyssenkrupp has been awarded a contract worth €35 million (approx. INR 2.5 billion) for the retrofit of the Harpoon missile system in two of the Shishumar-class submarines.
