India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed an INR3.06 billion (USD51million) deal with Germany's Atlas Elektronik for six low frequency Active Towed Array Sonar (ACTAS) systems to be fitted to Indian Navy (IN) warships.
The urgency of the requirement to safeguard its assets, continually emphasised by the IN since the late 1990s, has prompted the MoD to waive the 30% offset mandated for all military contracts worth over INR3 billion (USD50 million).
IN officials confirmed to IHS Jane's that the six ACTAS systems would equip three Talwar-class frigates and three Delhi-class destroyers, providing them with the capability to detect enemy submarines. They added that the sonars would be delivered soon and would be installed in empty compartments that have been built into the rear of all six warships.
The MoD issued a tender for the requirement in 2008 and the IN selected Atlas' ACTAS sonars over models offered by France's Thales and US' L3 Communications following field trials in 2010. This followed failed attempts by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation to indigenously develop an active towed array sonar (ATAS) system.
However, progress on signing a contract - which was finalised on 12 November - was delayed by recurring complaints to the MoD of wrongdoing in the selection process. All were rejected earlier in 2014, but the signing of the deal was left by the previous administration to the incoming BJP government.
The deal also includes Atlas transferring technology to state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bangalore to build 10 additional ATAS/ACTAS systems for other IN warships, many of which are under construction.
These would be supplemented by another 20 sonar systems to equip other IN platforms, including the aircraft carrier Vikrant, which is scheduled for commissioning in 2018. Industry sources said other than BEL, Atlas is also considering joint ventures with local private sector manufacturers to build the sonars.
