Navy blames 'strategic partner' delay for scuttling fleet expansion

Under SP policy, ministry was to nominate select Indian defence companies as designated partners

The navy’s warship procurement chief admitted on Tuesday that key purchases, including the vital procurement of six new submarines, were foundering on the defence ministry’s failure to finalise a “strategic partner” (SP) policy.

Under the SP policy, the ministry was to nominate select Indian defence companies as designated partners for foreign vendors to build weapons platforms in India. Separate SPs were to be chosen in ten production areas, such as warships, submarines, aircraft, helicopters, etc. 

Over the last two years, the defence ministry has overshot numerous self-imposed deadlines for announcing the SP policy. The Defence Procurement Policy of 2016 (DPP-2016) was released