*India to Produce six 'Scorpene' submarines*

India will build six Scorpene submarines under licence from France and the first one is expected to be commissioned in six years time from the date of signing the contract, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash announced here.

The Naval chief, who was in the city to inaugurate the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) conference was reacting to questions after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh just signed a deal worth Rs 13,000 crore to buy six highly advanced ‘Scorpene’ submarines during his just concluded visit to France.

Admiral Prakash said these six submarines would be built under licence at the Mazagoan docks in Mumbai.

“After this series, we will design and build our own later.'' Stating that having submarines at sea increased the combat levels of the blue water navy, he said with the induction of these submarines, the force levels would be adequate to meet any threat.