Germany Looking to Dock Submarine Deal with India

 

Sources said that Ursula  talked of Eurofighter and [HDW] submarines in her discussions with Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

 

India reportedly asked Germany what all it could offer if a direct deal was struck between the two countries on next-generation submarines. The move comes after India recently announced to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.

 

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems of Germany, which owns the submarine arm HDW, is among the few international companies India is looking at for the “Project-75 India” tender that will have six submarines with the air independent propulsion (AIP) allowing for longer period of submergence underwater. The Indian Navy also wants greater stealth and land-attack capability. 

 

Asked about the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Ms. Ursula expressed willingness to collaborate on manufacturing of submarines.

 

Der Spiegel also reports that Germany and India are already in discreet talks over the possible acquisition of six small German Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) diesel-electric submarines, equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, for a total cost of $ 11 billion. The subs would be built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel.

 

The Indian Navy currently operates a fleet of 13 conventional diesel-electric submarines after its INS Sindhurakshak sank in Mumbai in August 2013. Four of the submarines are of German-origin.

 

India is constructing six Scorpene class diesel-electric attack submarines Poject-75I submarines at an estimated cost of INR 60,000 crore (US $9.4 billion) with the French cooperation at the Mazagon Dock in Mumbai. 

 

According to the project proposal, two submarines will be directly bought from one selected foreign shipyard with the remaining four built in India. Germany will face DCNS (France), Navantia (Spain), Kockums (Sweden), Rubin Design Bureau-Amur Shipyard (Russia), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Japan) as competitors.