The head of the Indian Navy says that the construction of French-designed Scorpene class submarines at the Mazagon Docks at Mumbai is progressing well, and the first of the six boats is scheduled for delivery by September 2016, the Hindu newspaper is reporting. Further details on progress have been scant, though it is known that three of the boats have now been laid down, and the final boat is tentatively scheduled for delivery in 2022, the publication added.

India purchased the submarines in 2006 and plans to implement its own indigenously-developed air-independent propulsion system into the last several boats in the class, as well as build a future flight of submarines if further deals are signed. Indian defence officials previously said that they believed the AIP system offered by DCNS, the French shipbuilder, was insufficient for their purposes, Indian newspapers have noted.