Naval Group starts maintenance operations in India...
Naval Group India’s technical workshop at Karwar industrial area was inaugurated on September 13th, 2023 by the hands of Rear Admiral KM Ramakrishnan, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area (FOK), in presence of Mr Vincent Martinot-Lagarde, EVP Services of Naval Group, Mr Laurent Videau, Country & Managing Director of Naval Group India, and other senior dignitaries.
The opening of Naval Group India’s technical workshop
The opening of Naval Group India’s technical workshop at Karwar industrial area signifies its long-term commitment towards Indian Navy and the industry. It is strategically located close to the Indian Navy’s Naval Ship Repair Yard at Karwar that shall be home to Indian fleet of aircraft carriers, warships and Kalvari class submarines (based on Naval Group Scorpene® design). Naval Group India is the first subsidiary of any Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) platform designer to establish it physical presence at Karwar, supporting the Government of India’s vision and mission of INS Kadamba also referred as Project Sea Bird.
Launching of vagsheer ii
This workshop will house necessary tools and trained Indian engineers to provide time-bound services together with the support from our qualified partners - Indian Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs). This workshop will complement Naval Group’s other workshops in Mumbai.
It aims to perform and support the maintenance activities related, but not limited to, combat system (electronic printed circuit boards, cabinets, peripherals of consoles, etc), electrical system (antenna switching unit, power supply unit(s) for sonar/ Torpedo interface module/ Air surface detection system, starter panel and intercom) and mechanical system (valves, masts, reducers, pressure bottles, etc).
The maintenance of Kalvari class submarines
Speaking on the occasion, EVP Services Mr Vincent Martinot-Lagarde said “We are investing up to INR 100 crores for this new workshop. We stand ready to assist the Indian Navy in an adaptive manner for the maintenance of Kalvari class submarines through upcoming refits and more. The opening of our technical workshop is a natural extension of the strategic bilateral cooperation shared between India and France in the field of underwater defence & deterrence in line with our continued commitment towards the Indian Government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ policy”.
It was further emphasised that Naval Group is regularly empowering the subsidiary and its partners in India, thus enabling much of repair activities in India by reducing the turnaround time as compared to sending it to foreign OEM. As a result, promoting more and more indigenous sourcing.
About Naval Group in India
Naval Group India is a 100 % owned subsidiary of Naval Group, which is headquartered in Paris, France. Established in September 2008 as DCNS India, it has its presence felt in 2 major cities: Mumbai and New Delhi. The main purpose of Naval Group to be in India would be to support the Indigenisation through ‘Make in India’ activities for Scorpene® submarine equipment, to develop the Indian defence eco-system, as well as to develop design services in India with talented Indian engineers. The endeavour of Naval Group India is to be a visionary and to further its involvement in empowering more and more industries by creating a robust eco-system that can cater to the varied defence needs of the country.
Photos credits: Naval Group