Germany ready to sign ‘forward leaning’ deal with India for submarines: German Ambassador to India
The German Ambassador to India stated that Germany is ready to sign a "forward leaning" agreement with India for the construction of conventional submarines, describing the arrangement as having accommodated India's specific requirements
The submarine programme referenced is Project 75(I), under which Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is partnered with India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) to build six next-generation conventional submarines in India
The deal has reportedly been finalised on the German side and awaits approval from India's Cabinet Committee on Security before formal signing
The Ambassador linked increased defence investment by both countries to a more uncertain global geostrategic environment, and characterised the arrangement as a technology-transfer partnership rather than a straightforward equipment sale
Project 75(I) — India's Second Conventional Submarine Line
Project 75(I) is the follow-on programme to Project 75 (the Kalvari-class/Scorpene submarines built with France's Naval Group at Mazagon Dock), aimed at inducting six additional next-generation conventional submarines with significantly greater underwater endurance.
Key Details
- The submarines under P-75(I) are expected to be based on a customised, enlarged variant of the German Type 214 design (referred to as Type 214NG)
- The programme mandates Air Independent Propulsion, a capability absent in India's existing Kalvari-class boats at induction
- Indigenous content targets rise progressively from around 45 percent for the first submarine to around 60 percent by the sixth, in line with the domestic-manufacturing objective of the programme
- The estimated programme value is in the range of ₹70,000 crore (approximately USD 8 billion)
The readiness signalled by the German side concerns the government-to-government framework for this exact programme, with final approval now pending on the Indian side.
Strategic Partnership (SP) Model — India's Indigenisation Route for Major Platforms
The Strategic Partnership Model was introduced under Chapter VII of the Defence Procurement Procedure, 2016 (retained under DAP 2020) to build Indian private/public capacity as long-term manufacturing partners for four platform segments: fighter aircraft, submarines, helicopters, and armoured fighting vehicles/main battle tanks.
Key Details
- Under the model, the Ministry of Defence identifies an Indian Strategic Partner in each segment, which then ties up with a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer for technology transfer, co-production and supply-chain development
- For Project 75(I), the Ministry issued an Expression of Interest in 2019 to shortlist Indian Strategic Partners tying up with foreign submarine OEMs; the MDL-TKMS combination is the outcome of that process
- The model differs from the earlier Project 75 arrangement, which was a direct government-to-government/PSU-led build with Naval Group rather than a formally designated Strategic Partner tie-up
The Ambassador's emphasis on "technology transfer" and building submarines "in India" reflects the core design objective of the Strategic Partnership Model — shifting from imported platforms toward domestically constructed ones with foreign design input.
Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) — The Key Technology Upgrade
AIP allows a conventional diesel-electric submarine to remain submerged for extended periods (days to weeks) without surfacing or snorkelling to recharge batteries, narrowing the underwater-endurance gap with nuclear-powered submarines.
Key Details
- Principal AIP technologies include fuel-cell systems (used in German designs, combining hydrogen and oxygen with water as the only by-product), Stirling-engine systems, and closed-cycle steam systems such as the French MESMA
- India's DRDO, through its Naval Materials Research Laboratory, has separately been developing an indigenous fuel-cell-based AIP system intended for retrofitting onto the existing Kalvari-class submarines
- Project 75(I) submarines are expected to be equipped with AIP from induction, unlike the first-generation Kalvari-class boats
AIP capability is a central technical reason India is pursuing a new submarine line with a German partner experienced in fuel-cell AIP systems, rather than relying solely on indigenous AIP retrofits to existing submarines.
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) — Final Approval for Major Defence Deals
The CCS, chaired by the Prime Minister, is the apex body that grants final approval for high-value defence acquisitions after the procurement process (Acceptance of Necessity, technical evaluation, commercial negotiation) has been completed.
Key Details
- CCS approval is typically the last procedural step before a contract of this scale and strategic significance is signed
- Government-to-government or high-value strategic platform deals (such as this submarine programme) routinely require CCS clearance given the long-term financial and security commitments involved
The Ambassador's statement that the deal awaits India's approval refers specifically to this CCS clearance stage, distinguishing a finalised negotiating position from the constitutionally/administratively required final sign-off.
- Programme: Project 75(I), six next-generation conventional submarines
- Indian partner: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL); foreign partner: Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Germany
- Submarine design basis: customised/enlarged variant of the German Type 214 (Type 214NG)
- Estimated programme value: approximately ₹70,000 crore (roughly USD 8 billion)
- Indigenous content trajectory: approximately 45 percent (first submarine) rising to approximately 60 percent (sixth submarine)
- Key capability addition: Air Independent Propulsion, absent in India's first-generation Kalvari-class (Project 75) submarines
- Procurement framework: Strategic Partnership Model, Chapter VII of DPP 2016 / retained under DAP 2020
- Pending approval stage: Cabinet Committee on Security, on the Indian side