Germany’s ThyssenKrupp, Spain’s Navantia vie for Indian Navy’s AIP-submarine contract

Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marien Systems (TkMS) and Spain’s Navantia are competing to co-develop six conventional submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system for the Indian Navy under the Project-75I programme. 

This is outside the Navy’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), in order to reduce the big gap against China’s PLAN, which has 12 of these SSNs in its fleet.

Indian Navy, however, has to content with two SSNs, and that too not in the near term, as these are to be built in India with 90 per cent local content.

The submarines with AIP technology, proposed to be built in India, will use a combination of Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology and a lithium-ion battery, which will give them the capability to stay in the ocean depths for longer duration like the SSNs. 

The fuel cell technology will give them the capability to move at higher speeds when required.

An AIP-based submarine is cheaper than a nuclear-powered submarine and are easy to maintain. Fuel cell systems being modular can also be replaced quickly and easily.

The recent visits of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez are part of the lobbying for the contract.

Both Thyssenkrupp Marien Systems and Navantia are now trying to validate their technologies.

Navantia’s technology cannot be considered as proven as its first submarine with AIP technology will be out only in 2026. The company, however, has entered into a partnership with Larsen and Toubro.

Germany, on the other hand, has a history of already collaboration with India’s Mazagon Docks for building the HDW submarines, which the Indian Navy still operates. 

While field evaluation trials have found that none of the companies was able to meet the complete requirements of the Indian Navy, Navantia’s AIP system was seen to be the closest to what the Indian Navy has specified.