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PARIS, Friday (AFP) France's naval construction company DCN is to sign a contract in September or October to supply India with six Scorpene type submarines, the economic daily La Tribune reported Friday.

Defence electronics group Thales, prime contractor for the operation, has already signed an agreement with the Bombay-based naval shipyard Mazagon Dock for a transfer of technology so that the subs could be built there, the newspaper said quoting industrial sources.

No one was available for immediate comment at Thales or DCN.

"France and India are reflecting to find the ideal date to announce this contract," La Tribune said, adding that "the crisis between India and Pakistan does not really favour the announcement of such a contract."

The DCN recently signed a 1.04 billion euro (1.02 billion dollars) contract with Malaysia to supply two Scorpene type submarines.

The Scorpene is a conventional submarine with classical diesel propulsion. It is 66.4 metres (219 feet) long and has a speed of over 20 knots for a displacement of 1,700 tonnes.

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