In India, there are growing indications that German naval shipbuilder TKMS and its local partner could be commissioned to deliver six Type 214 submarines.
By Lars Hoffmann / Hartpunkt
This week, The Times of India newspaper reported that the Ministry of Defense and the state-owned company Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL) have been given the go-ahead to begin contract negotiations with TKMS. According to the article, these could possibly begin in August and be concluded within six months. However, no official statements on the project have been made.
In the end, only the Spanish state-owned shipyard Navantia remained in the running for the billion-dollar project. Indian media then reported at the beginning of the year that Navantia was unable to meet the requirements, particularly with regard to air-independent propulsion (AIP).
At the beginning of January, TKMS confirmed in response to an inquiry from hartpunkt that the group and its partner were the only bidders still in the procurement process. The company wrote in a statement that it had been informed by Mazagon Dockyard Ltd. (MDL) that the joint bid for the P75(I) project had been deemed compliant by the Indian Ministry of Defense and approved for further processing.
Observers consider it unlikely but not impossible that there will be an official announcement about the project during Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s visit to India next week.
This article by Lars Hoffman was originally published in German language at Hartpunkt.de. It has been translated and republished with authorization.
