Russian Amur class diesel-electric submarine with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)

Rubin Central Maritime Design Bureau has prepared the necessary information on Amur-1650 submarine to bid in the 75I tender for six non-nuclear submarines for the Indian Navy, Rubin CEO Igor Vilnit told TASS.

"According to the tender rules and Make in India logic the choice of a foreign partner belongs to Indian enterprises. Our proposal for the Indian Navy is based on non-nuclear Amur-1650 submarine and meets all the customer requirements," he said.

The Indian government sent a Request for Information (RFI) related to 75I tender to collect data on potential suppliers and their products. Rubin bids at the tender with Rosoboronexport arms trader and under the auspices of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

"The Indian government submitted the RFI to Rosoboronexport. Rubin timely and fully supplied all the necessary information to Rosoboronexport. We are waiting for Request for Proposal to provide full answers on all issues," Vilnit said.

The Indian Navy announced plans to procure six submarines in 2006. Before 75I tender which was several times postponed, India signed a contract with France for the supply of six Scorpene diesel-electric subs.

Non-nuclear Amur-1650 is an export option of Lada-class submarines of project 677 designed by Rubin. New hull solutions, coating and the latest electronics provide unprecedented stealth characteristics. Amur-1650 can carry precision Club missiles (export option of Kalibr).

Rubin plans to assist India in the creation of air-independent power plant for Amur-1650 in the framework of 75I tender. "We are sure that the Indian Navy would work to install its own power plant. We are ready to help integrate the Indian plant or assist in its creation upon permissions from the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation and Rosoboronexport," Vilnit said.

The Rubin-designed power plant is fired by diesel fuel while hydrogen for fuel elements is obtained by reforming method.

"Safe operation provides advantage to the power plant which is offered for the non-nuclear submarine that can be jointly created in the framework of 75I project by the Russian and Indian sides with technical assistance of our enterprise," Vilnit said.