Russia and Larsen&Toubro could cooperate to upgrade Indian Navy's Project 877EKM submarines

: Posted On Monday, 11 January 2016 10:15

Naval Defense News - Russia & Larsen&Toubro

Russia and Larsen&Toubro could cooperate to upgrade Indian Navy's Project 877EKM submarines

Russia may cooperate with India’s Larsen&Toubro Company to upgrade Russian-made diesel-electric submarines on the Indian territory, The Economic Times reported on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. According to a military source of the newspaper, the submarines were initially planned to be modernized at the Pipavav Shipyard belonging to Indian billionaire Anil Ambani.

A Indian Navy Project 877EKM (Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarine

However, Russia informed the Indian Defense Ministry earlier that the shipyard would be unable to complete the submarines’ modernization in accordance with the schedule as it required retooling. According to estimates, the submarines’ upgrade will be worth $800 million.

India is planning to modernize three Russian-made Project 877EKM diesel-electric submarines, the Sindhudhvaj, the Sindhuraj and the Sindhurashtra, that require medium repair.

The Project 877EKM diesel-electric submarine has a displacement of 2,300 tons, a length of 72.6 meters, an underwater speed of 19 knots (about 35 km/h), a depth of submersion of 300 meters and cruising capacity of 45 days. Its crew totals 52.

Earlier, the Zvyozdochka Shipyard in Severodvinsk in north Russia and the Indian Navy also signed a contract for the upgrade of the diesel-electric submarine Sindhukesari on the Russian territory.

The contract envisages its medium repair that is expected to take 27 months.

The submarine is planned to arrive in Severodvinsk in the summer of 2016.