2024-05-14 15:14:41
Berlin: India’s ambitious project P75I has been pending for a long time. Under this project, India aims to domestically build six Scorpene-class attack submarines. The project was initially approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1997 as a replacement for the Sindhughosh class submarines. At that time the project was scheduled for operational service by the end of 2020 but it has not yet started until 2024. In 2020, the Indian government shortlisted two shipyards and five foreign defense companies for the P75i. Also Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) were named as strategic partners for indigenous manufacturing.
In 2021, MDL looked for partners with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, the Eurasian Times reported. Three contenders – Naval Group (France), Rosoboronexport (Russia), and Navantia (Spain) were disqualified. This left only two contenders – ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) from Germany and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) from South Korea. Raising some issues, TKMS decided to withdraw from the program.
Germany’s interest in P-75I
TKMS took a U-turn after withdrawing from the program and joined it again. Now with the cooperation of TKMS, the German government has suddenly emerged as a major player in India’s submarine project, which is a significant development. The discussion during the visit of the German Defense Minister in June 2023 highlighted Germany’s keenness for participation. Germany’s Defense Minister advocated TKMS during talks with India’s Defense Minister and stressed the potential of the submarine deal to become a major project between the two countries.
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In September 2023, the German government was considering acquiring a minority stake in ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Germany’s proactive stance became more evident in January 2024 when it proposed a government-to-government deal for the supply of six advanced conventional submarines to India under the P75I, signaling a deep commitment to bilateral defense cooperation. Germany’s Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann expressed full support for the negotiations between TKMS and the Indian Navy for the P75I. He expressed Germany’s commitment to work together with India to build high-tech submarines.
Relaxation in export restrictions
In April 2024, Germany eased export restrictions for India with the aim of strengthening military cooperation between the two countries. The move reflects Germany’s commitment to deepen military-to-military ties with India. According to the report, TKMS’s Indian partner Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has started work on the first phase of the submarine design. Germany is offering its SDW class Dolphin submarines based on the AIP system to the Indian Navy.
The German government’s increased interest in India’s P-75I submarine program not only reflects the evolving dynamics of global security but also reflects the changing landscape of defense cooperation. They also underline India’s active efforts to diversify its sources of military hardware beyond its traditional partners such as Russia. Germany’s increased involvement in India’s submarine program marks an important milestone in bilateral defense cooperation, potentially enhancing the strategic maritime capabilities of both countries.