German-Indian Collaboration: German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp and its Indian partner, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, have successfully cleared field trials to build six advanced submarines for the Indian Navy.
This marks a major step forward in India’s USD 5 billion submarine project aimed at modernizing its naval capabilities. The project is especially significant given China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean.
According to Buisness World, ThyssenKrupp emerged as the sole contender for the contract. Its potential rival, Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, partnered with India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T), but they couldn’t meet the Indian Navy’s requirements during trials conducted in 2024, according to defense sources.
A standout feature of the project is the inclusion of air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology. This will enable diesel-electric submarines to remain underwater for over two weeks without surfacing.
On the other hand conventional submarines without AIP must surface every few days to recharge their batteries. Currently, none of the 17 conventional submarines operated by the Indian Navy have this advanced technology, while neighboring countries like China and Pakistan do.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders announced in an exchange filing that the field trials were successful and that the Indian defense ministry has invited the company for commercial negotiations, scheduled for next week. If a contract is finalized, the first submarine is expected to be ready within three to five years.
Republic Day 2025: Honoring the Indian Armed Forces and Real-Life Heroes
This project, however, has faced long delays, with analysts pointing out that it has already been postponed by over a decade. Meanwhile, nearly half of India’s existing submarines are aging, despite undergoing multiple upgrades and retrofits in recent years.
These new submarines will be a crucial boost to India’s naval strength as it works to maintain security and balance in the region.
