‘NAVANTIA IS A SUPPORTER OF ‘MAKE IN INDIA' INITIATIVE'

Navantia’s openness to activities that contribute to the creation of new industries, develop capacities, and the progressive acquisition of industrial skills is well known, and has taken different forms depending on the Client requirements and local capacity, explains SOFIA HONRUBIA, Commercial Vice President, Navantia in this one-on-one with GEOPOLITICS

- SOFIA HONRUBIA

What are the latest developments related to the S80 plus, which Navantia is proposing as the reference design for the Indian P75(I) project?

The S-80P programme consists of four state-of-the-art long-range conventional submarines equipped with a revolutionary AIP (air-independent propulsion) system. All four units are currently under construction for the Spanish Navy.

After the important milestone achieved in December 2019 with the closing of the first unit hull, the construction progresses well despite the COVID-19 outbreak, with launching scheduled in Q1-2021, followed by sea trials and delivery in 2022.

The remaining submarines are in different stages of construction, which provides the opportunity to visualise in one single location, the complete construction cycle of the S-80P submarine, with much in common with the P75(I), and the benefit of lessons learned for better efficiency and low risk of the tasks to be performed in India.

How does Navantia plan to meet stringent Indian indigenisation and ToT requirements?

Navantia is a supporter of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which is a reminder of our very own story. Some forty years ago, Navantia purchased the design of a frigate from the US, outfitted with American equipment. Nowadays we are warship designers and cooperate with inter nat ional navies in several projects, with an important participation of the Spanish defence industry. So, the road we have walked by is very similar to the one Indian industry is going through right now.