Mazagon Dock Ltd has teamed up with Italian shipbuilder Fincanteri to build stealth frigates.

Controlled by the Defence Ministry and specialised in the building of naval and offshore units, Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) is to receive technical advice for Project 17A, which envisages the construction of seven stealth frigates ordered last year by the Indian Navy at two shipyards — MDL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

Four of the frigates would be built by MDL, and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). The agreement is expected to allow Fincantieri to establish long-term cooperation with the two shipyards and to consolidate its commercial presence in India. Project 17A is the follow-on of Project 17, which comprised three multi-role Shivalik class stealth frigates built at MDL between 2000 and 2010, for the Navy.

The follow-on project deals with the construction of seven frigates of 149 meters length each and a displacement of 6,400 tonnes.

Sources pointed out that the “basic and functional design has been developed by the Indian Navy. The ships will be built at MDL and GRSE, and Fincantieri will help modernise them. This would also involve a significant amount of transfer of technology from Fincantieri, with the creation of system advisors, that would be useful for other programmes.”

The construction of the first ship is expected to start early next year, and is expected to be launched by 2020, following an upgrade of the two shipyards to incorporate modular construction techniques.

Fincantieri is to assist with the development of detailed engineering aimed at integrated building in the two Indian shipyards, as well as design optimisation processes and modular construction, and undertake training and ongoing technical assistance.

The Italian shipbuilder has also bid for the construction of two mini submarines with Hindustan Shipyard.

Fincantieri has also reportedly participated in other tenders, which involve the construction of five new fleet tankers, and for the construction of multi-purpose vessels for the Navy.

At present, the firm is providing spares and systems maintenance for two fleet tankers that were handed over to the Navy.