New Delhi, Nov 14 (ANI): The construction of the much-awaited Scorpene submarines is underway at the Mumbai-based Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL), the premier ship-building public sector organisation of the country with the likelihood of Larsen and Toubro joining hands for the same.

The Scorpene submarines, six of which have been ordered by the Indian Navy, are being built by Mazagaon Dock Limited.

India's largest Engineering and Construction conglomerate, Larsen and Toubro Limited (L and T) is likely to collaborate with the Indian Navy in the manufacture of the Scorpene submarine project.

The first three submarines will get the technological transfer from the French company Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN), while Mazagaon Dock Limited would carry out the assembly of the submarine.

Larsen and Toubro has had a long association with the Indian defence sector by way of indigenising design and manufacture of defence equipment. Larsen and Toubro which is already participating in the Navy's highly ambitious Advanced Technology Vessel programme has made inroads into becoming Mazagaon Dock Limited's partner in the overall submarine programme.

From the fourth submarine, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is likely to pitch in for a partnership with the Naval Design Group for indigenisation, said Commodore K.N.Vaidyanathan, in a briefing today, ahead of the Golden Jubilee of the Corps of Naval Constructors.

The Corps which is a specialist arm of the Engineering branch of the Indian Navy actively contributing to naval ship and submarine design, their construction, repair and maintenance and research and development.

Revealing the navy's ambitious expansion plan, on the eve of the Golden Jubilee Commodore Vaidayanathan, who is the Principal Director Naval design at Naval Headquarters, here, said that 35 ships are in the offing, which are being built indigenously.

The ships ordered and under construction are scheduled to be commissioned and functional by 2012.

Mazagaon Dock Ltd. is building three Kolkata class Destroyers, three Shivalik class Stealth Frigates and six Scorpene submarines, all of which will be ready between 2010 and 2012.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) of Kolkata have been entrusted with building three Landing Ship-tanks- four Anti- Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvettes. The Garden Reach Shipbuilders has been accorded the status of a Mini-ratna Category - I company, which are likely to be ready by 2011.

The Cochin Shipyard is building 12 Fast Attack Crafts (FAC) along with a 37,500-tonne aircraft carrier with the help of the Italian firm Fincantieri and designed by the Indian Navy, which is likely to be ready by 2012.

An order has been placed with the Goa Shipyard Ltd. for three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV).

Three Krivak Class frigates have been ordered from Russia, which are expected to be delivered by 2012. The indigenous nuclear submarine project - the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)-is being built by the Ship Building Center, Vishakhapatnam under the aegis of DRDO.

Among the ships being acquired from abroad, the US warship Trenton, a Landing Platform Dock (LPD), is undergoing refitting in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in early 2007.

The most important acquisition is the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The aircraft carrier is being refitted in St. Petersburg, and is expected to join the Indian Navy by 2008.

The navy is also scouting the foreign market for transfer of technology to construct Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMV), which are an advanced version of mine sweepers.

The Corps of Naval Constructors which completes 50 glorious years on November 17, 2006 has had an impressive track record of building 80 ships and submarines since 1983. (ANI)