Brazil seeks India's help in submarine maintenance

By Our Special Correspondent

In a positive addition to India's nascent defense industry, Brazil on Monday held talks on the maintenance of submarines.

A Brazilian Navy delegation led by Vice Admiral (Adm) Liberal Enio Zanelatto, Director of Industrial Production and Engineering, Vice Adm. Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, and Western Naval Command met in Mumbai.

In a statement, the Indian Navy said, “During the two-day visit, the Brazilian delegation held extensive discussions with Indian naval counterparts focusing on the management of submarines. As part of the tour, the delegation also visited Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Kalvari (Scorpene) class submarine of Indian Navy.

MDL is involved in joint manufacturing of six conventional Scorpene (Project 75) with Naval Group of France. The sixth and final of the Indian Navy's Kalvari class submarines was commissioned in April this year.

The Brazilian Navy also maintains 4 Scorpene-class submarines and is exploring options for cooperation in maintaining diesel-electric attack submarines.

During the talks in Mumbai, Vice Admirals Liberal Ennio Janelatto and AB Singh discussed a range of common interests, including defense and submarine technology, Make in India, initiatives for professional cooperation between navies and the Indian Navy's approach to shared maritime interests. All similar navies/countries.

India is moving towards increasing its exports of defense equipment and services. India bagged a huge defense contract in January this year. The Philippines has approved a $374.96 million (Rs 2700 crore) deal for the purchase of the coast-based BrahMos anti-ship missile system from India.

Sanjay Jaju, Additional Secretary, Department of Defense Production (DDP) recently said that in 2021-22, India's defense exports will reach a maximum of Rs. 13,000 crores, he said. Defense related exports are dominated by private sector industries.

India's defense exports were ₹8,434 crore in 2020-21, ₹9,115 crore in 2019-20 and ₹2,059 crore in 2015-16. In the financial year 2014-15 it was Rs.1, 941 crores.