This is a perfect opportunity for France and India to put their strategic partnership into overdrive mode. Fully agree SSridhar-ji. +108 to you!SSridhar wrote:Its only significant strategic partner in Indo-Pacific is India. This is a region with considerable French interests.
Sirjee, at this stage (with the P-75I contest drifting aimlessly)....better to just continue with the Scorpene line. And exact spec as the first six boats. Don't even customize it. Do that jadugar during their mid life refits (DRDO AIP will be a good start). Just build six more Kalvari boat and end the SSK contest. And order the F-21 torpedo as a follow on deal for six more Kalvari boats. No other SSK will come quicker. SMX Ocean will only add delay and time is not a luxury that the Indian Navy's submarine arm has.Cain Marko wrote:This sounds likely. Whether desh acquiesces is a different matter but now is the time for some hard bargain to be driven. Get the SMX Ocean + some raffles.
The SMX is no SSN but would be quieter and offer plenty of time on station in the areas of interest to India (similar to those that the Aussies showed in that little graphic). Along with the chakras, this will be a good backup until Desi SSNs start to roll off.
The real catch is the SSN. If we can go with our own reactor design with a life of 25 - 30 years with French kit on board, it is a win win situation for the Indian Navy. In the Indian nuclear submarines thread, Vicky has stated that India can make a reactor with that long of a life. One thing is beyond doubt with AUKUS is that nuclear powered submarines will be the offensive platform of choice to engage the PLAN. It will also be used for recon and intelligence gathering. This idea that a CATOBAR will be invincible against submarines, has now been disproven.
But since this is the Rafale thread, order additional Rafales for the IAF and end this MRFA farce. There is no need to maintain any semblance of considering US interests. They shut it down with AUKUS, not us. What is the point of QUAD now?