The scorpene class submarines are being built under a technology transfer from French company DCNS.
Highlights
- First of Kalvari class submarines to join Navy will be without torpedoes
- This is as India will not buy torpedoes from Finmeccanica subsidiary Wass
- Finmeccanica's other subsidiary, AgustaWestland, involved in chopper scam
India will not buy heavyweight torpedoes from Wass -- a subsidiary of Italian company Finmeccanica -- for its Kalvari class submarines in India, sources in the Ministry of Defence said.
As a result, the first of the Kalvari class which is expected to join the Navy end of this year, will not have a torpedo - the main weapon for a submarine -- to fire.
The Kalavari class is the Diesel-Electric Scorpene submarines designed by the French naval defence and energy company DCNS. The subs are being made at Mumbai's Mazgaon docks.
The decision to cancel the purchase stems from the order by an Italian court last month, which found irregularities committed by Finmeccanica subsidiary AgustaWestland in the sale of 12 VVIP helicopters to India.
The Navy was to buy 98 heavyweight 533 mm torpedoes from WASS for about Rs 1,200 crore.
The Navy has been asked to look to alternatives. The officials said they are hopeful that the government will also look at the government-to-government route to procure the torpedoes.
Earlier, the Defence Ministry had banned AugustaWestland from participating in any defence deals in India.
A partial ban had been imposed on Finmecannica following legal advice that a complete ban could affect combat readiness.