The Indian Navy is preparing to undergo training to operate the Scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon Docks (MDL), Mumbai, India, an official has said.

“The Indian crews will begin training with the French Navy after some months. Each submarine will have just a 36-member crew since automation levels in them are very high,” the official added.

Two naval crews will be trained in France, as part of the Rs234m ($5.2bn) programme.

The first Scorpene is expected to be launched in 2013, and will be ready for commissioning by August 2015 with the sixth submarine to be delivered by 2018.

The Indian Navy will operate five of its existing ten Russian Kilo Class and four German HDW submarines by 2020, according to the Times of India.