India stands on the brink of one of its most significant naval modernization initiatives with Project-75I (P-75I), a program to acquire and indigenously build six advanced diesel-electric attack submarines at an estimated cost of around $8 billion (approximately ₹70,000–90,000 crore). As of January 2026, negotiations with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), in partnership with India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), have reached advanced stages. The deal is widely expected to progress or potentially be finalized during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India on January 12–13, 2026, marking a major milestone in Indo-German defense cooperation.
Conceived in the late 1990s as a follow-on to the successful Project-75 (which delivered the Kalvari-class Scorpène submarines), Project-75I aims to equip the Indian Navy with next-generation conventional submarines featuring Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology. This allows the vessels to remain submerged for up to two weeks—far exceeding the 48-hour limit of traditional diesel-electric boats—greatly enhancing stealth, endurance, and operational persistence in contested waters.
The submarines are anticipated to be a customized, enlarged variant of Germany’s proven Type 214 design, with a displacement of around 3,000 tonnes. Key enhancements include superior stealth features such as reduced acoustic signatures, advanced sound-absorbing materials, heavyweight torpedoes, anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, state-of-the-art sonars, sensors, and electronic warfare systems. Indigenization will start at 45–60% local content, with full technology transfer enabling India to build expertise for future programs like Project-76. Construction is expected to begin later in 2026, with the first delivery projected around 2032 and the complete fleet operational by the mid-2030s.
This procurement addresses critical gaps in India’s submarine fleet, where many Soviet-era vessels are nearing retirement. It bolsters capabilities for littoral operations, open-ocean patrols, anti-submarine warfare, sea denial, and intelligence gathering—essential in an increasingly volatile Indo-Pacific.
The strategic implications are profound, particularly in the context of regional rivals. Pakistan is accelerating its undersea modernization through Chinese assistance. Under a $5 billion agreement signed in 2015, Pakistan will induct eight Hangor-class submarines—an export variant of China’s Type 039A Yuan-class with AIP. The first vessels are set to enter service in 2026, with the full fleet operational by 2028. This will elevate Pakistan’s submarine force from 8–9 aging boats to a more formidable 16–17, emphasizing sea denial in the Arabian Sea and protection of key assets like Karachi and Gwadar.
Meanwhile, China maintains the world’s largest navy, including over 60 submarines—many AIP-equipped Yuan-class and nuclear-powered units—now increasingly active in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) for extended patrols and potential forward basing.
Project-75I directly counters these developments by restoring India’s qualitative edge in conventional submarines. The AIP-equipped boats will enable prolonged underwater operations, superior stealth for tracking adversary vessels, and effective denial of sea access in choke points. While Pakistan may achieve temporary numerical parity in AIP submarines during the late 2020s—due to delays in India’s program—the overall naval balance favors India, with its aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, and broader power projection.
Beyond hardware, the $8 billion investment advances India’s “Make in India” and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals through deep technology transfer and domestic construction at MDL. It reduces long-term import dependence, builds industrial capacity, and positions Germany as a strategic partner in maritime security.
In essence, Project-75I is not merely an upgrade—it’s a strategic recalibration. As India navigates a two-front underwater challenge from Pakistan’s rapid buildup and China’s expanding IOR presence, this program ensures sustained maritime dominance, deterrence, and self-reliance in the decades ahead. The potential sealing of the deal during Chancellor Merz’s visit underscores the deepening Indo-German ties amid shared concerns over regional stability.
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