Article Posted on : - Jul 20, 2009

A File Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Government Monday said that the delay in delivery of the Scorpene submarines is likely to impact the underwater capabilities of the Indian Navy.

"Delay in scheduled delivery of the submarines is likely to have an impact on the envisaged submarine force levels," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a Lok Sabha query.

He added that slippages in the delivery schedule of Scorpene submarines was expected due to problems in absorption of technology and delays in augmentation of industrial infrastructure as well as procurement of material by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL), where the attack submarines are being constructed.

The Defence Minister said that as per the schedule, the first submarine was supposed to be delivered in 2012 and thereafter, one each was to be delivered till 2017.

In 2004, India had signed a deal worth Rs 18,000 crore for construction of six Scorpene submarines with France. All the six were supposed to be constructed at Mumbai-based MDL with the help of French company DCNS.

Meanwhile, replying to another query, Antony said that the indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would be inducted into the Indian Air Force from 2010-11.