By Admin 
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India is going to add a new dimension to the defense relations between the two countries. Because important talks have taken place between the two countries regarding building a joint stealth submarine for the Indian Navy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, during his meeting with Germany, made an important announcement regarding the joint defense industry between India and Germany.
Discussion going on to build six submarines for the Navy
After the talks between PM Modi and Chancellor Merz in Ahmedabad, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told the media that positive discussions are going on on the construction of six (06) submarines for the Navy and a positive outcome is expected. According to the Foreign Secretary, such deals involve technical, financial and commercial discussions, which are currently ongoing. After this discussion is completed, the Defense Ministry can share information on this.
Under Project 75 (I) of the Navy, India and Germany are preparing to build six (06) stealth submarines. For this, a strategic agreement has been signed between Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL) and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Company (TKMC). The total cost of this project is about 08 billion dollars i.e. 72 thousand crores. These submarines are being prepared to be manufactured in MDL under Make in India.
MDL signed agreement with German company last year
The Defense Ministry had announced Project P75 (India) in 2017 for six special submarines equipped with Air Independent Propellant (AIP) technology. For this, the Defense Ministry had given permission to MDL and L&T Company to enter into an agreement with any foreign OEM i.e. Original Equipment Manufacturer. In such a situation, MDL had signed an agreement with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp company for Project 75 (I) in September last year.
L&T Company had joined hands with Spain’s Navantia, but Navantia and L&T Company proved unsuccessful in making submarines equipped with AIP technology. In such a situation, the Defense Ministry had decided to exclude L&T and Navantia Group from the project.
Specialty of submarine equipped with AIP technology
Submarines equipped with AIP technology can operate under the sea for a long time (up to two months), whereas conventional (diesel) submarines have to come to the surface from time to time. When submarines come to the surface, they become visible to the enemy, but due to stealth (AIP) technology, the enemy remains unaware of the submarine.
It is noteworthy that a big defense deal is going to happen between India and Germany after about 40 years. In the year 1986, during the then Rajiv Gandhi government, both the countries had made a deal for HDW submarines (Shishumar class submarines), but due to bribery and brokerage, the Navy could get only four out of six submarines of this deal. Of these, 02 were manufactured in Germany and the remaining 02 in MDL.
MDL will get the second largest project
After the Scorpene class submarine, MDL is going to get the second big submarine project. With the help of France, MDL has built six Scorpene (Kalvari) class submarines and handed them over to the Indian Navy. The special thing is that six Kalvari (Scorpene) class submarines of the Indian Navy are also being equipped with AIP technology. In December last year, the AIP technology developed by DRDO was transferred (TOT) to L&T company. This AIP technology is being developed at L&T’s shipyard in Hazira (Gujarat).