Germany has completed its internal approvals for a major submarine deal with India and is now waiting for New Delhi’s final clearance, German ambassador Jasper Wieck said on Wednesday.
The proposed ₹70,000-crore Project 75I programme involves the construction of six next-generation conventional submarines in India. Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) will partner with state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders for the project.
Speaking to reporters, Wieck said Germany had approved all the necessary documents, including the government-to-government agreement. He said Berlin was ready to sign the agreement as early as Thursday, while the final approval from the Indian side was still awaited.
According to the envoy, the agreement has been designed to address India’s requirements and could open the door to wider cooperation in defence technology and manufacturing.
The Project 75I programme is aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy’s underwater warfare capabilities. The submarines will be based on the HDW Class 214 design and are expected to feature air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology. Such systems allow submarines to remain underwater for longer periods without surfacing, potentially reducing their exposure to detection.
The contract will also include the transfer of design and technology from Germany to India. This is expected to support India’s broader efforts to increase domestic defence production and technological self-reliance.
The first submarine is expected to be delivered around seven years after the contract is formally signed, followed by one submarine every year.
Wieck also highlighted other areas where Germany and India could expand defence cooperation, including drones, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, missiles and sensor technologies. He said both countries were increasing defence spending amid a changing international security environment.
Defence cooperation between India and Germany has expanded in recent years. German naval vessels have visited Indian ports, German forces have participated in military exercises in India, and Germany has posted a liaison officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region.
The two countries also finalised a defence industrial roadmap in April. According to Wieck, Germany has significantly changed its approach towards defence exports and technology transfers to India.
The submarine agreement, once approved by New Delhi, would mark one of the biggest defence projects between India and Germany in several decades.
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