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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday visited the submarine manufacturing facility of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in Kiel, accompanied by his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, in a move that underscores growing maritime cooperation between India and Germany.
The visit comes as India moves closer to finalising its nearly Rs 1 lakh crore Project-75 India (P-75I) programme, under which six advanced submarines are to be built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) with significant technology transfer. TKMS is a leading contender in the programme, offering submarines equipped with advanced air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems that allow longer underwater endurance and greater stealth.
Calling the visit “insightful,” Singh pointed to the high-end technologies and sophisticated capabilities on display at the Kiel facility, one of Europe’s main centres for conventional submarine design and construction. Officials said exposure to such systems would support India’s efforts to strengthen its underwater fleet while pushing for greater indigenisation.
The German firm has built a range of AIP-capable submarines for global navies, and its involvement in P-75I is expected to bring critical design and manufacturing know-how to India’s domestic shipbuilding ecosystem.
Singh described the engagement as “mutually beneficial,” particularly at a time when maritime security is gaining salience amid shifting geopolitical currents in the Indo-Pacific. The visit also reflects New Delhi’s increasing emphasis on partnerships with European countries in critical defence sectors such as naval systems and shipbuilding.
The Kiel stop was part of Singh’s wider visit to Germany, during which both sides held talks in Berlin to expand defence cooperation. The discussions covered co-development and co-production in advanced and niche technologies, signalling a shift from a buyer-seller dynamic to deeper industrial collaboration.
Maritime cooperation is emerging as a key pillar of the India–Germany strategic partnership. While India is seeking technology and industrial support to bolster its naval capabilities, Germany sees India as an important partner in maintaining stability across key sea lanes.
Against this backdrop, Singh’s visit to the TKMS facility is being viewed as a step towards translating strategic convergence into concrete collaboration in the maritime domain.
Team BharatShakti
