INDIAN NAVY'S PROJECT-751 - GERMAN TKMS LEADS SPANISH NAVANTIA AFTER FIELD TRIALS FOR AIP-SUBMARINE DEAL

German submarine-builder ThyssenKrupp (TKMS) and India's Mazagaon Dockyard Limited (MDL) have emerged as leaders in the Indian Navy's Project-751, which aims to build six submarines with Fuel Cell Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) and Lithium-ion batteries. Following successful field trials, TKMS and MDL have gained an edge over competitors by demonstrating their proven AIP technology and advanced submarine design tailored to the Indian Navy's needs.

German submarine-builder ThyssenKrupp (TKMS) and its Indian partner Mazagaon Dockyard Limited (MDL) have come on top of the field trials conducted by the Indian Navy for the Project-751 for the construction of six submarines with Fuel Cell Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology combined with Lithium-ion battery. Between March and June, the Indian Navy evaluated the submarines offered by TKMS in Germany and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia in Cartagena. Only one of these companies had proven and validated AIP technology.

Navantia has yet to incorporate the technology into the S80 submarine offered to the Indian Navy. One of the class's submarines has already been inducted into the Spanish Navy without AIP technology.

The German Navy, in March 2024, provided its submarine for the Indian Navy's field evaluation. The Indian Navy team went on a day-long diving trial in the 212-class German submarine to evaluate the AIP technology. However, the Navantia field evaluations took place in a simulator. Navantia has been asserting that its submarine design meets 'almost' all the technical requirements of P-751 without any redesign. Reports indicate that the Indian Navy has communicated to the MDL that it has cleared the crucial field evaluations and has an edge in the tendering process. Also, Navantia's Indian partners Larsen and Toubro have been informed of the deviations in the trial conducted in Cartagena.