The Indian Navy has concluded field evaluation trials for the ₹43,000-crore Project 75I, involving the assessment of two submarine contenders.
A team visited Spain last month to review a submarine from Navantia, a State-owned shipbuilder, as confirmed by sources familiar with the process.
India Concludes Submarine Deal Trials
Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has partnered with India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) for the project, which aims to build six submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems. Meanwhile, Navantia has teamed up with engineering giant Larsen & Toubro.
The evaluation of Navantia's submarine, based on its new S80 class, was carried out at a shipyard in Cartagena. Earlier in March, the Indian Navy assessed the TKMS submarine at a German shipyard. Navantia demonstrated the AIP system's operation on the surface, with plans to showcase its submerged performance soon. The navy will present its findings on both submarines to the defence ministry for further action.
Both TKMS and Navantia are actively lobbying for the project, which includes the construction of six advanced submarines by an Indian contractor in collaboration with a foreign partner. The AIP system enables the submarines to remain submerged for extended durations. The project mandates a minimum of 45% Indigenous content for the first submarine, increasing to 60% for the sixth.
During his recent visit to India, Navantia Chairman Ricardo Dominguez Garcia-Baquero expressed the Spanish government's full support for his company's bid, including rapid export clearances and signing an agreement with the Indian government similar to the recent Airbus deal with Tata for C-295 transport aircraft.
Garcia-Baquero emphasized Navantia and L&T's commitment to fulfilling India's technology transfer requirements and Indigenous content stipulations, aligning with India's objective of achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing. TKMS has proposed a submarine design based on its Class 214 and Class 212CD models.
The submarine deal is expected to be discussed during upcoming visits by German and Spanish leaders to India. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to visit in October for bilateral inter-governmental consultations, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez is also expected to visit later this year.
Germany has recently taken steps to boost defence cooperation with India, such as easing licensing requirements for military equipment sales. Spanish officials have expressed a desire to strengthen defence ties with India as part of Europe's broader strategy to reduce India's reliance on Russian military equipment.
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