Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) have formally entered into contract negotiations for Project 75(I), India’s largest-ever defence procurement programme. The landmark initiative aims to construct six next-generation conventional submarines in India, ushering in a new era of naval modernisation, indigenous shipbuilding, and Indo-German defence cooperation.
Under the deal, six advanced TKMS-designed submarines will be license-built by MDL in Mumbai, with a significant emphasis on local manufacturing, skills development, and long-term technology absorption. This approach aligns with India’s “Made in India” and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, ensuring that the domestic industry plays a central role in creating strategic assets critical to national security.
TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard highlighted the broader vision of the partnership, noting that India is well on its way to becoming a global hub for submarine technology and production. He stressed that the collaboration goes beyond mere contracts, being rooted in trust, innovation, and shared strategic goals.
For India, Project 75(I) represents both a strategic leap and an industrial breakthrough. Strategically, it will strengthen India’s naval deterrence and enhance its ability to safeguard its interests across the Indo-Pacific. Industrially, it positions MDL to acquire cutting-edge submarine design expertise, boosting domestic capability to develop future generations of underwater platforms.
For Germany, the project underscores its commitment to supporting one of Asia’s most ambitious conventional submarine programmes, while deepening Indo-German defence and technological cooperation.
Recent high-level exchanges between both governments have set the stage for this milestone, reflecting a mutual resolve to enhance maritime security and bilateral defence ties. The programme is also expected to generate substantial employment opportunities and new ecosystems in India’s defence sector, paving the way for future indigenous submarine manufacturing.
In essence, Project 75(I) is more than a defence contract—it is a strategic partnership that could shape India’s emergence as a maritime power while anchoring Indo-German collaboration in the global security architecture.
