Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Sunil Lanba on Saturday said that preliminary investigation by committee formed by the ministry of defence had revealed that information about Scorpene class of submarines was leaked from the warship material producer, DCNS of France. Admiral Lanba was speaking to media persons during the launch of Mormugao, the second ship of Project 15B.
The CNS said a high-level committee was investigating into the incident and after complete investigation, higher authorities would decide on necessary measures needed to avoid such incidents. He added that the leakage had created no negative impact on the second project of Scorpene-class submarines. Mr Lanba clarified that India and France were conducting a high-level inquiry in the matter.
The first six Scorpene-class submarines were being manufactured in Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL) and defence had decided to prepare project 75 (I) of this category with the collaboration of foreign companies. Mr Lanba said that the defence ministry had put a break on the project for sometime but they never stopped it as the leak incident was not going to stop future participation by foreign countries.
