Finance
According to media, the Centre and the UK government are considering the idea of signing an agreement to create an electric propulsion system in India to power indigenous warships.
Indian warships are now powered by diesel engines, gas turbines, and steam turbines. The electric propulsion capability is intended to power larger warships with displacements exceeding 6,000 tons.
According to authorities, the UK submitted the government a letter of intent last month to create the capability in India via a government-to-government arrangement.
Indian officials have been reviewing the formal proposal, and once accepted, the terms and conditions of the agreement will be formalized.
According to reports, the agreement will also include provisions for training, equipment, and infrastructure.
According to officials, after the agreement is finalized, the essential capability would be built through a collaboration between the UK’s GE Power Conversion and state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL). Both firms have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the ‘Integrated Full Electric Propulsion System’.
The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom Royal Navy have integrated full electric propulsion. In India, the system is expected to be tested initially on landing platform docks and next-generation destroyers.
The media claimed in January that discussions on the system’s creation saw significant progress during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s two-day visit to the United Kingdom, with discussions taking place at numerous levels.
Admiral Ben Key, the UK’s First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, stated in February that he has been in discussions with Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar about opportunities for Indian sailors and engineers to visit the UK and see how electric propulsion ships are operated, emphasizing that the move is gaining traction despite obstacles.
Both countries formed a combined electronic propulsion working group, which met in the UK in February. A delegation met again on the HMS Lancaster in March of last year, when the Royal Navy frigate made a port call at Kochi.
A joint working group on the India-UK electric propulsion capability collaboration met for the second time in November of last year to further examine this.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff, stated in April of last year that India and the UK are in comprehensive negotiations about exchanging technological know-how and experience on these systems.
Source:IANS
