Work-Share For Indian Firms Likely In Australian $50 Billion Submarine Project

Indian firms are likely to contribute to $50 billion submarine project involving French DCNS for Australia by obtaining sub-contracts.

"India and Australia as decided during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia in 2014 have ventured into the areas of defence collaboration and joint research. While India's DRDO chief visited Australia, our top defence scientist visited this county to explore joint defence ventures. As part of these collaboration Indian firms may obtain sub-contracts in Australia's submarine project with France," Australia's High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu was quoted as saying by Economic Times in an interview Thursday. 

India has experience with working on French submarines and this expertise can contribute to the Aussie-French project, said Sidhu.

DCNS won a contract to build 12 submarines for Australia in April this year. Australia will get to possess the new Barracuda-class submarines which will be built to Australian specifications for a conventional, non-nuclear powered submarine in 8-10 years from the signing of the contract.

The submarines will cost $20billion to build and $30billion to maintain over their expected lifetime of 30 years.