India and Germany are on the verge of concluding one of the country’s biggest defence acquisition programmes, with the long-awaited Project-75I submarine contract expected to be finalised soon. Valued at more than ₹90,000 crore (approximately €8 billion), the agreement will enable the construction of six next-generation conventional submarines for the Indian Navy under the government’s Make in India initiative.
The project will be executed through a partnership between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Instead of importing fully built submarines, the vessels will be manufactured in India with extensive technology transfer, strengthening domestic defence manufacturing capabilities while reducing long-term dependence on foreign suppliers.
The upcoming submarines are expected to be based on the proven Type-214 design, featuring Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology. This advanced propulsion system allows conventional submarines to remain submerged for much longer periods without surfacing, significantly improving stealth, operational endurance and survivability during combat missions. The platforms are also expected to incorporate modern combat management systems, advanced sonar suites and the capability to launch heavyweight torpedoes and other precision weapons.
Project-75I has experienced several years of delays owing to complex technical requirements, commercial negotiations and the government’s emphasis on indigenous manufacturing. With negotiations now entering the final stage, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann has indicated that the agreement could be signed in the near future, marking a major milestone in bilateral defence cooperation between New Delhi and Berlin.
The induction of six advanced submarines is expected to play a crucial role in modernising the Indian Navy’s ageing underwater fleet. The new platforms will enhance India’s ability to conduct intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, sea-denial operations and strategic maritime patrols across the Indian Ocean Region, where regional naval competition continues to intensify.
Beyond strengthening military capability, the agreement is expected to provide a major boost to India’s defence industrial base. Local construction, technology transfer and participation of Indian suppliers are likely to generate high-skilled employment while expanding the country’s expertise in complex submarine design, integration and lifecycle support. The programme is also expected to reinforce India’s long-term objective of achieving greater self-reliance in advanced defence manufacturing.
If signed as anticipated, Project-75I will become one of the largest naval procurement programmes in India’s history and further deepen strategic defence ties between India and Germany while significantly enhancing the Indian Navy’s underwater combat capabilities.
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