India is being positioned as a potential submarine manufacturing powerhouse in the Asia Pacific region, according to Oliver Burkhard, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), a global leader in conventional submarine technology.
Speaking on the growing demand for submarines in Europe, South America, and South Asia, Burkhard highlighted the strategic partnership between TKMS and India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).
This collaboration is centered around a joint bid for the Indian Navy's Project-75I, an ambitious endeavor to construct six advanced submarines with significant domestic value addition. The project is estimated to cost over Rs 45,000 crore (approximately $5.4 billion USD).
Burkhard envisions India replicating a model similar to TKMS's successful ventures in South America, where the nation serves as a manufacturing hub for submarine technology, catering to the broader Asia Pacific region.
This development comes as TKMS is being restructured within the Thyssenkrupp Group, with the parent company focusing on green technologies like hydrogen for steel production. Burkhard emphasized the substantial investment required for decarbonizing steel manufacturing, citing a $1 billion price tag for converting one million tonnes of steel capacity to CO2-free production.
India's focus on indigenous submarine development is further underscored by ongoing projects like the construction of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines under the Arihant class and the development of advanced conventional submarines under Project-75.
The success of the TKMS-MDL partnership in Project-75I will be a crucial determinant of India's future as a submarine manufacturing hub. If successful, this project could pave the way for India to become a major supplier of submarines to other countries in the region, marking a significant shift in the global defense landscape.
