India is grappling with a leak of sensitive data on its Scorpene submarines from the French company but an internal assessment has found that it could be cheaper to construct an indigenous set of nuclear-powered attack submarines rather than relying on a foreign vendor for technology.

India is currently building six Scorpene submarines under a licence agreement from France, a deal which was inked for . Rs 18,000 crore in 2005. The Rs 3,000 crore a submarine tag would go up further if escalation and inflation is calculated for the ten year build period.

An internal assessment has brought out that the cost of constructing six new nuclear-powered attack submarines, derived from the design and expertise gained from the INS Arihant — India’s first nuclear boat — would be close to Rs 35,000 crore.

The set of indigenous nuclear attack boats would not be as stealthy as a conventional, diesel electric submarine but would have much greater endurance and weapon carrying capability.

“According to our calculations, if we are to build six attack submarines based on the existing design of the Arihant, the cost would not exceed Rs 35,000 crore,” a source involved in the process told. Contrast this to an upcoming tender the Navy will float for six more conventional submarines which is expected to cost over Rs 60,000 crore, called Project  75I.

French company DCNS, from which the leak has occurred, is one of the companies contesting for this order. The huge difference in pricing, officials told, is due to the licence fees charged in the case of the Scorpene and the cost of technology development that would be factored into project 75I from the vendor.

“In the case of the indigenous nuclear attack submarines, the design is already with us. It has been designed in India and the only cost would be the construction and fitment of weapons,” the source said.

The Navy has a submarine design bureau that has’ gained considerable expertise due to the Arihant project. INS Arihant, which is a nuclear powered submarine armed with nuclear weapons, has successfully undergone trials and is ready for deployment.

Source: Economic Times