The Italian company Oto Melara could be excluded from the ban by 400 million dollars issued by the Indian Navy for the supply of 110 naval fees from 30 millimeters. This is what is reported today by Defense News citing sources from the Indian Ministry of Defense.
At the tender, held under the "Buy and Make" category, Israeli companies Rafael and Elbit, South Korea's Samsung Techwin, and the British companies BAE Systems and digital EM were invited. They write from Defense News reporting the statements of the Indian Navy: "Based on the new policy of our government, Oto Melara may not even be allowed to participate".
The tender for naval cannons from 30mm was published in 2013 in March, but no foreign supplier participated due to a specific condition imposed by the Indian government for the transfer of the technology of the company Bharat Heavy Electronics Ltd. Clause now removed, which is why the Indian government expects a good response from foreign companies.
The Indian Navy would probably prefer the Italian company considering that the 76 mm naval guns produced at home under license by BHEL, belong to Oto Melara.
The story concerns the purchase of 12 helicopters AW101 for government transport for a value of 560 million euros made by AgustaWestland (an Italian-British company controlled by Finmeccanica). The final opinion of the Indian legal authorities is awaited on AgustaWestland. Finmeccanica, in the 2014, was included in the alleged cases of international corruption blacklist India. At the moment also the deal from 300 million dollars for 98 heavy torpedoes is frozen Black Shark, signed with Finmeccanica Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei for Scorpène class submarines.
The "Kalvari", first submarine stealth built by Mazagon Dock Limited, in Mumbai, is conducting sea trials and is expected to enter service with the Indian Navy by September of the 2016. The '75' program involves the construction of six class submarines Scorpène within the 2020. The Indian Navy has signed a contract of 4,6 billion dollars with France, in the 2005, to build under license the platform designed by the DCNS companies. Work on the first boat began in May of the 2009. The "Kalvari" is the first Indian submarine designed to operate at greater depths than the others of its same size, estimated in 300 meters (350 test). The project uses a particular "high performance specific steel" that allows it to operate at such depths while the entire class has been designed with safety techniques and protocols to attenuate any type of underwater sound emission. The profile itself of the Scorpène class should be difficult to detect from enemy sonars. The second boat, the "Khanderi", will be launched within a year and will enter service in the 2017.
The "Scorpène"
The Scorpène class diesel-electric attack submarines were designed by the companies DCN and Navantia, united in the DCNS consortium. The platform is also equipped with independent propulsion from the extra air (the AIP module is Indian). AIP systems allow the non-nuclear submarine to operate without the use of outside air. While for the reactor of a nuclear submarine cooling liquid must be continuously pumped, generating a certain amount of detectable noise, the non-nuclear battery-powered boats with AIP system, would sail in silence. The AIP propulsion allows it to extend its navigation to a maximum of 70 days. A little less than 70 meters, with a width of 6,2 meters and a displacement of 1700 tons, provides a crew of 31 men. Its maximum speed in diving is estimated at 37 km / h while surface navigation can reach 22 km / h. The six 533mm tubes are designed to launch "Black Shark" heavy torpedoes designed by Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei, Exocet anti-ship missiles or thirty mines.
(photo: Online Defense)
