India nears Rs 80,000 crore approval for six German-linked submarines and weighs three extra Scorpene boats

Key facts

• India is in the final stages of clearing an over Rs 80,000 crore deal to build six advanced conventional submarines domestically with German partnership, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said.
• The six submarines fall under the long-pending Project-75(I) programme, under which Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and German firm ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) are expected to build the boats in India with substantial Indian private-sector participation.
• India is also considering a separate proposal for three additional Scorpene (Kalvari-class) submarines to be built at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.
• Project-75(I) aims to deliver diesel-electric attack submarines with advanced sensors, weapons, stealth features and Air-Independent Propulsion, built in India through a strategic partnership between an Indian shipyard and a foreign original equipment manufacturer.
• The Indian Navy plans to fit an indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) onto a Scorpene-class submarine during a mid-life refit towards the middle of next year.
• The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) has developed an indigenous integrated combat system for submarines, which will be installed across the fleet during refits.
• The fleet expansion comes as India monitors growing Pakistan-China naval cooperation, including Pakistan's induction of Hangor-class submarines built with Chinese assistance.
• Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh made the remarks on October 1, 2026, stating that Project-75(I) is at the final stage and pending a final decision by the competent authority.