India, Germany explore cooperation in submarine manufacturing

India and Germany on Tuesday held talks exploring the possibilities of collaborations in the manufacturing of six additional diesel-electric submarines as well as upgradation of the Dornier aircraft used by the Navy and Coast Guard.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met his German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen for delegation-level discussions that continued for an hour. The German minister is scheduled to call on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday before flying to Mumbai where she would be visiting the Western Naval Command.

India is currently constructing six Scorpene class submarines with French cooperation at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai under the supervision of the Western Naval Command. Parrikar and Leyen are understood to have discussed the Rs 50,000 crore Project-75I for the construction of six more conventional submarines in an Indian shipyard with foreign collaboration.
“Partnering of Germany in the Make in India programme was discussed. Both sides exchanged views on the supply of state-of-the-art equipment and technology,” a defence ministry spokesperson tweeted.

The P-75I submarines will have air independent propulsion technology to enable these platforms to stay under water for a longer period.

The government has created a committee under the chairmanship of one of the senior most Navy officials Vice-Admiral A V Subhedar, the controller of warship production and acquisition in the Navy, to assess the capabilities of Indian shipyards – both public and private sectors – and submit a report based on which a decision would be taken.