Germany wins Project-75I program bid; Indian Navy to award contract to MDL-TKMS partnership for construction of 6 Next Gen submarines

Source : IgMp Bureau

Image Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems

The Indian Navy is preparing to award a contract for the domestic production of six diesel-electric submarines to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), collaborating with Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The German design was chosen over bids from the Spanish shipyard and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), primarily due to its superior performance in field evaluation trials (FET), particularly the effectiveness of its Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. In contrast, the Spanish submarine, still under development, is not expected to have an operational AIP system until 2026.

Recently, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems introduced an innovative submarine design to a select group of Indian media, aimed at enhancing the Indian Navy's P-75I program. This design introduces the concept of “Stealth Shaping,” featuring angled sides that significantly reduce the submarine's acoustic signature. This feature minimizes detection by active sonar, providing a critical edge in modern submarine operations.

The Recent Improved Stealthy designed submarine offered under Project-75I to the Indian Navy by the German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), which is likely to be the official submarine of this program

While the idea of stealth shaping is not entirely new, it is a refined concept based on the Type-212CD submarines currently being developed for the German and Norwegian navies. These submarines prioritize stealth over traditional rounded hull designs, which, while useful for maneuvering, are less effective at evading sonar detection due to the multiple echo returns they produce when pinged by active sonar.

TKMS's focus on reducing the acoustic signature with angled hulls underscores the importance of countering active sonar in submarine warfare. This design aims to give the Indian Navy a significant advantage by allowing submarines to remain undetected in contested waters.

This advanced design, alongside the proven AIP system that the Spanish bid lacked, played a crucial role in the Navy's decision to favor the German submarine. The new design signals a major development for the P-75I program, which aims to strengthen India’s underwater fleet.

The selection of the German submarine represents a pivotal moment in India’s submarine-building initiative. The first submarine under the P-75I project is anticipated to be delivered within seven years from the contract signing. The collaboration between MDL and TKMS will involve the transfer of critical technology to India, bolstering the country’s indigenous submarine-building capabilities.

The German submarine on offer is a cutting-edge diesel-electric vessel with superior stealth features, equipped with advanced sensors and weapons systems, making it a powerful asset for the Indian Navy. However, it remains to be seen whether Germany will approve this new design for construction under the Project-75I program, or if the Navy will proceed with the Type-212CD variant, which was earlier proposed as the base model. Indian naval officials recently inspected and tested this model during their visit to Germany.

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