Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tours German Submarine Facility, Advancing Project 75I Discussions
Kiel, Germany — On April 22, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) submarine manufacturing facility in Kiel, along with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The visit emphasized state-of-the-art submarine technologies and advanced naval capabilities, furthering maritime defence cooperation between the two nations.
During his three-day official visit to Germany from April 21 to 23, Singh inspected the facility and boarded a Type 212 submarine. Photographs from the tour show the Indian and German delegations on the submarine at Kiel harbour, highlighting the strategic partnership between India and Germany.
The focus of the tour was on TKMS's expertise in diesel-electric submarines featuring Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems, which enable submarines to remain underwater for longer periods with increased stealth. This technology is closely aligned with India's Project 75I, which aims to domestically produce six advanced diesel-electric attack submarines.
Valued at approximately ₹90,000 crore ($8 billion), Project 75I seeks a partnership with an international firm like TKMS to facilitate technology transfer and local production, predominantly at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in India. Conceptualized nearly two decades ago, the program is now in advanced negotiation stages, with a final agreement anticipated soon.
German Defence Minister Pistorius conveyed strong optimism about concluding the deal within the next three months, calling it a crucial component of India-Germany defence relations.
The visit is part of broader efforts to enhance strategic ties between India and Germany, including a newly signed defence roadmap. It also addresses the Indian Navy's need to modernize its submarine fleet in light of increasing maritime challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
This interaction builds upon ongoing defence industrial collaboration, with potential expansion into areas such as heavyweight torpedoes and other naval systems. Officials described the tour as "insightful" and beneficial for maritime domain cooperation.
