MDL-TKMS in Final Commercial Negotiations for India's ₹43,000 Crore P-75I Deal for 6 AIP-Equipped Stealth Subs

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) have entered the final stage of commercial negotiations for a ₹43,000 crore contract to build six advanced stealth submarines for the Indian Navy. This deal, part of Project-75I, represents a major step in modernizing India's underwater capabilities.

Project-75I aims to equip the Indian Navy with next-generation conventional submarines featuring Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems. AIP technology allows submarines to operate submerged for extended periods, significantly increasing their stealth and operational range.

The partnership between MDL, India's leading submarine builder, and TKMS, a global leader in submarine design, seeks to leverage both companies' strengths. The collaboration will combine TKMS's advanced technology with MDL's shipbuilding expertise to produce cutting-edge submarines tailored to India's specific needs.

The first submarine is expected to be delivered within seven years of the contract signing, with the remaining five following in a phased manner. This timeline is crucial given the need to replace the Indian Navy's aging submarine fleet.

The Project-75I submarines will boast several advanced features:

• Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) Systems: Enabling longer submerged operations for enhanced stealth and efficiency.
• Advanced Combat Systems: Integrating modern sonar, communication, and navigation systems for superior situational awareness and combat readiness.
• High-Endurance Design: Extended range and endurance to support diverse missions in various maritime environments.
• Indigenous Content: A significant focus on incorporating Indian-made components and systems to promote self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

This project is a significant investment in India's national security and underscores the country's commitment to maintaining a strong and modern naval force. The acquisition of these advanced submarines will significantly enhance India's maritime defence capabilities in the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.

 

[Anant]

The Rs. 43,000 crore figure was the original estimate, and that figure dates back to 2010-12. With inflation and other price escalations, the expected price today is Rs. 70,000 crore.

Next, Russia's offering for the Kilo-class submarines is long dead. Their initial offering under P-75I was a co-developmeny project called the Amur-class, which they later backtracked on and offered a few Improved Kilo-class boats (Project 636). Now, these boats don't offer that much over our Project 877EKM Kilos that have been upgraded to Project 08773 standard.

In any case, this was Russia's idea to get the shipyard at Nizhny Novgorod (that had previously built seven boats under Project 877, two under Project 877E, eight under Project 877EKM including six for India, and one under Project 636 for China) back up and running for submarines. However, with a lot of problems found on the boat built for China in the early 2000s, it was decided to convert the shipyard to instead build auxiliaries, and it was sold in 2009 to the USC.

Moreover, given Russia's ongoing misadventures in Ukraine, they cannot deliver any new boats in any case, and even deliveries of the Project 636.3 Improved Kilos to the Russian Navy is seeing delays.

Finally, while we do have 15 SSKs presently, you have got your information incomplete. We actually have 17 SSKs (7 Kilos, 4 Type 209-1500s, and 6 Scorpenes). Of these, however, two are in medium-term refits.

The Type 209-1500s are not due for retirement until 2036 for the first two boats (given their life extension refits), 2042 for the third boat (planned for life extension refit later this decade), and 2034 or 2044 for the last boat (depending on whether or may not receive such a refit).

The Kilos are not due for replacement in 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035, 2036, and 2040 or 2045 respectively (again, depending on whether or not the last boat receives a LIFEX refit).

See, we do need more SSKs. There can be no denying that. We presently have 6 modern SSKs, 7 modern-ish SSKs, and 4 older SSKs. We have 9 modern SSKs in the pipeline (3 Scorpenes and 6 P-75I SSKs), with a further 12 planned under P-76. What we can do right now is to fast-track P-76, and maybe get an option for three more boats under P-75I. That will give us, eventually, 30 modern SSKs plus the SSN and SSBN fleets.

Anything more than this is fairly unlikely, to say the least.

 

[Manoj Kumar]

@Anant We need Type 212CD, not Type 214

 

[Sandeep]

Finally the partner has been decided on. Now we have to quickly conclude the negotiations and technology transfer agreement so hopefully it won’t take long.

 

[Anant]

@Anant We need Type 212CD, not Type 214

1. The Type 212CD would be pretty bad for operations in the kind of waters we operate in, as the type is apparently specialised for operating in confined waters like the Baltic.

2. Just saying we need X doesn't mean anything. My understanding of the Type 214NG is that this design essentially adds some elements from the Type 212A, Type 218SG, and potentially the Type 212CD into a larger and modernised Type 214 hull.

 

[Dredd]

Finally the partner has been decided on. Now we have to quickly conclude the negotiations and technology transfer agreement so hopefully it won’t take long.

We have put ourself into single vendor situation, now see the price escalate similar to how it happened with rafale deal, this deal will be atleast $12 billion (100000 crore)

 

[Oleg Olkha]

1. The Type 212CD would be pretty bad for operations in the kind of waters we operate in, as the type is apparently specialised for operating in confined waters like the Baltic.

2. Just saying we need X doesn't mean anything. My understanding of the Type 214NG is that this design essentially adds some elements from the Type 212A, Type 218SG, and potentially the Type 212CD into a larger and modernised Type 214 hull.

Тhe 212CD type is specialised for operating in the North Atlantic, in the cold waters. Baltic one big puddle. Regards...

 

[Oleg Olkha]

The citation: "Das ist erst einmal eine gute Nachricht. Letztendlich eine Folge aus technologischer Reife und politischer Unterstützung. Allerdings ist auch mir aus meinem Umfeld bekannt, dass sich die Zusammenarbeit mit Indien als sehr kompliziert, zäh und langsam herausstellen kann. Die Historie des P75(I)-Projektes ist ja bereits sehr reichhaltig an Wendungen.
Was die Produktion und den Know-How-Transfer anbelangt, so ist es aus meiner Sicht in Ordnung, eine Weiterentwicklung der „Export“-Klasse 214 überwiegend in Indien zu bauen und auch in einem angemessen Maße das Know-How dafür zu transferieren. Ganz anders würde ich dies bei der 212CD-Klasse sehen, die aber – soweit ich dies sehe – nicht zur Debatte steht. Insgesamt würde dieser Auftrag den Marktwert von TKMS natürlich erhöhen. Außerdem bleibt damit eine gewisse Breite in der Produktpalette von TKMS mit gegenseitiger Befruchtung." Please google translate...

 

[MSN]

@Anant We need Type 212CD, not Type 214

You are right, Type 214 is export version of Type 212. So Type 214 lacks lot of secretive confidential technology such as non magnetic hull.

 

[MSN]

Type 214 is an export version of Type 212, so it lacks some confidential technologies, such as a non-magnetic hull. The Navy should opt for the proven Type212CD version.

 

[Oleg Olkha]

The non-magnetic hull It is an austenitic type of stainless steel. There is a sizeable difference in price, but worth it.

 

[Gajanan Hirde]

Finally the partner has been decided on. Now we have to quickly conclude the negotiations and technology transfer agreement so hopefully it won’t take long.

Same should be for MRFA