A technical oversight committee from the Ministry of Defence has found that only the joint bid from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems meets the eligibility criteria for the Rs 70,000 crore P75(I) submarine project. This project is designed to enhance the Indian Navy’s underwater capabilities.

In an exchange filing, MDL confirmed that its commercial bid for the P75(I) project has been opened for further processing. The company has already constructed and delivered five Scorpene-class submarines, with the sixth still to be delivered.

MDL remains optimistic about securing additional orders, as it anticipates contracts for three more submarines. The company also intends to retrofit the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system to extend the underwater endurance of conventional submarines, allowing them to remain submerged for up to three weeks.

The competing bid from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Spain’s Navantia did not meet the project’s criteria, according to reports. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, is set to decide on the final bidder soon.

The P75(I) project aims to construct six advanced submarines with AIP systems, a key element in enhancing India’s strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.