P17 FRIGATE

In order to bring substantive improvements to its next line of stealth frigates, the P17A line for seven ships as a follow-on to the Shivalik-class, India's premier builder of large warships and submarines Mazagon Docks Ltd (MDL) will be appointing a Know-How Provider (KHP) for 'Technology Upgradation & Capacity Enhancement (TUCE)' to impart requisite knowledge and skill to leverage utilisation of the modernised infrastructure at the shipyard. The KHP will function on the P17A line in order to bring an all round business process transformation in warship building. A top MDL official said, "Building follow-on ships in a series with more number of vessels, will essentially provide high take-off levels in terms of design maturity and availability of material and will definitely result in reduced build period." MDL's infrastructure upgrade allows it to handle grand blocks and execute integrated construction. "The modernised infrastructure is being gainfully leveraged for current build programmes of P15B ships (destroyers) and the Scorpene-class submarines," said the official, adding, "Despite our inherent strengths, the Indian shipyards need to go a long way to graduate commercially and technically to the level of shipyards in developed nations. The best practices in the industry abroad are to be imbibed and ruthlessly implemented for ensuring long-term dividends."