Russia has said that it will not take part in the Indian Navy’s ongoing procurement plan for new submarines, confirming that the Indian government has been formally notified of the decision. The Rs 43,000 crore plan to acquire six new submarines under Project 75I has also hit delays early in the process, with other foreign contenders and Indian partners seeking additional time to formulate their proposals. The Russian side has offered India upgraded Kilo class submarines – the type that forms the bulk of the current conventional fleet – but has decided to withdraw from the contest citing technical reasons.