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India and Germany appear to be nearing the finish line on the long-awaited Project 75I submarine programme, with German Ambassador to India Dr. Philipp Ackermann indicating that the agreement could be concluded in the coming weeks or months.
In an exclusive interaction, Ackermann said the negotiations surrounding the ambitious Rs 90,000-crore submarine project had entered a decisive phase following Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Germany.
“You have heard of the submarines which are hopefully being concluded, the agreements being concluded soon. I think there is a very interesting future for both sides, not only for the Indian side when it comes to German defence production, but also for the German side when it comes to Indian defence work,” Ackermann said.
The proposed Project 75I deal involves the construction of six next-generation Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)-equipped conventional submarines for the Indian Navy in partnership with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). Once signed, the agreement is expected to become one of the largest defence contracts between India and Germany.
Speaking about Singh’s three-day Germany visit from April 21–23, the ambassador underscored the importance Berlin attached to the engagement.
“We were very happy about this visit of Minister Rajnath Singh. He came to Germany for three days; he had a look at the submarine. He went to Kiel, where the shipyard is, and even saw the interior of the submarine,” the ambassador said.
He added that the project was now approaching its final stages.
“I think we are a couple of weeks away from the conclusion of the agreement. Of course, it is the decision of the Indian side, it is their purchase. So, we will have to wait until the agency process is done. But I think we will see, in the coming weeks or months, a signature here,” he said.
The submarine deal formed the centrepiece of Singh’s Germany visit, which also focused on expanding bilateral defence industrial cooperation, military-to-military engagement, and partnership in emerging domains such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
During Singh’s bilateral talks with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin, both sides signed a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training, agreements seen as significant milestones in deepening strategic defence ties.
Ackermann described the broader defence relationship as one that now extends beyond military exchanges into co-production and long-term industrial collaboration.
“That includes, of course, common manoeuvres, working together, armed forces with armed forces, but also defence production and cooperation in projects,” he said.
The ambassador also pointed to growing interest among German defence firms in partnering with Indian industry as New Delhi pushes for greater indigenisation under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Project 75I has been under discussion for nearly a decade and is considered critical to the Indian Navy’s long-term modernisation plans. The programme aims to build six advanced diesel-electric submarines equipped with fuel cell-based AIP systems, allowing them to remain submerged for significantly longer durations while enhancing stealth and combat endurance.
The submarines are expected to strengthen India’s underwater warfare capabilities at a time of increasing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean Region and continued maritime competition with Pakistan.
India currently operates a mix of Scorpene-class, Kilo-class and German-origin Shishumar-class conventional submarines, alongside a growing nuclear submarine fleet.
The two countries are marking 25 years of strategic partnership and 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. Defence cooperation has emerged as a major pillar of cooperation alongside trade, technology, green energy and advanced manufacturing.
