New Delhi, Feb 29 (IANS) French defence major DCNS and its Indian partner Flash Forge have delivered key equipment meant for onboard crew safety on India’s Scorpene submarines, six of which are under construction at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).
“The delivery, managed by DCNS India, was made on time, meeting all the stringent quality standards required for on-board use on a submarine with 100 percent quality compliance,” DCNS said in a press release Wednesday.
The agreement with Flash Forge was signed in June 2011.
MDL, which is producing the six conventional diesel-electric submarines with French technological help, has already received the first Indian-made equipment for the Scorpene submarines programme, termed in naval parlance as Project 75.
“Simultaneously, DCNS India, the subsidiary of the French defence major in India, is working on the selection and qualification of Indian companies as partners for local production of the Scorpenes’ equipment,” the release said.
“We are providing our Indian partners with know-how and technical assistance to manufacture equipment which will be installed on board the Scorpenes. Together with MDL, we are qualifying suitable companies which are meeting the rigorous specifications needed for the submarines,” DCNS India managing director Bernard Buisson said.
The Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the first locally-made equipment for large-scale piping system on board the Scorpenes was successfully performed at Flash Forge premises in Vishakapatnam in January.
“The success of the manufacture and delivery of this first indigenisation contract with Flash Forge is the culmination of a long and stringent process,” the release said.
The process involves preliminary audits of the manufacturing and quality processes performed by experts from DCNS France; certification of the prototypes to three different laboratories, including a DCNS laboratory for Naval Material and Structures, to validate the good manufacturing of the equipment; and frequent interaction between Flash Forge and DCNS teams during the manufacturing process, it added.
“This delivery is especially significant since the quality of each equipment on board submarines contribute to the overall safety of the crew and of the ship’s performance,” DCNS India said.
“Given the relative small quantities of each material to be manufactured, DCNS is looking for long-term partnerships. And each potential industrial partner needs to demonstrate a willingness to invest in the required specific infrastructure development,” Buisson said.
The same comprehensive selection method is underway for other equipment and more contracts with Indian partners will be announced shortly, the firm added.
