Well PSG and SJ both were clear as well as @Abingdonboy, @sancho @Capt.Popeye and many other boarders who had clearly stated that investment of time and money in MDL for Scorpene sub production hardly makes sense if its just 6. I remember Sancho distinctly saying why P75I. It should be either scrapped or separated as 6+6 follow on makes sense. Now its 6+4. But i would still hope its actually 6+4+2(directly from france)
The logic of 2 build in french shipyard is that scorpene induction of 6 at least induction and sea trials of few all will be in 2021 types max. So the follow on assuming it takes an average 4 years for construction at max efficient modular construction mode puts 2025 as beginning of follow on order and a sub every year after that for sea trials. Ths its uptill 2025-28 when we get all 10 subs. Logically if we get 2 from french shipyards directly outside these 4 follow on we can get 2 in between 2021-2025 timeline. This allows us to slowly utilize shishukumar class less and use scorpene class more at least with planned deployment over different zones.
Again i hope IN had thought such a hybrid structure. bcz doing that french side can show work and employment back home too and that allows them to reciprocate the business gesture by trying to get subs out before scheduled timeline..My thoughts perhaps may not be agreeable with many boarders. But business is more of give and take so we should do a bit more smart bargaining.
Looking at everything i do believe p75I may finally go to Russians. German subs looks a bit difficult as diversifying aircraft as well as sub business both from Russia looks a bit too much. Especially as Russia's involvement in N Sub program especially for the larger SSBNs is already planned. Thus it makes sense to get them on board quickly rather than make them feel left out of the bandwagon. We actually need a submarine which is inbetween the Amur and Yasen class.. Amurs awesomeness and Yasen modern technology. Now question is like 5th gen tech being tried to downstream to MKIs in super sukhoi program then can we get some Yasen class tech in Amur and make it superior then normal Amur class? especially the noise, speed, endurance as well as the capability versus range? Again P75I si going to be a 6+6 or 6+4+2(direct) structure. And it will be a huge cost as it will have the N sub program help cost also build in.
If i would have been PM's advisor i would have talked to Chancellor Angela Merkel for a g2g deal for 3-4 subs of HDW Dolphin Class latest with augmentation in line with with Israel and load up SLCM Nirbhay like Popeye Turbo. No make in india shipyard for this dela directly from Germany and offset investment i the form of renewable energy in smart cities. Again by 2025 we can get these 3-4 subs and one shot having SLCM Nirbhay deployed gives us a boost like never before. This keeps all the players happy and IN can happily retire old sub fleet and concentrate on N sub program carefully and in a planned manner. Keeping Germany happy gives us a big boost too especially since Chancellor Merkel is a very very powerful figure in Euro as of today with Francois Hollande. This kind of deal will make UK PM Cameroon come to India asap to get some deal too which allows us to see what best we can get from UK wih TOT.. Something for IA perhaps..
So effectively IN will have at least 25 Susbs of 3 types from three different vendors.