Germany, India Boost Defence Ties with Type 214 Subs

Submarines initially in focus Germany and India seek closer defence cooperation

2026-04-22 From Detlev Karg 1 min Reading Time

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German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is seeking to deepen defence-industrial cooperation with India. In Berlin, he signed a ten-point roadmap with a delegation led by his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, aimed at strengthening collaboration and supporting the sector.

A Type 214 submarine, HS Papanikolis (S-120), at the ex HDW (today TKMS) shipyard in Kiel. The German-designed platform is expected to form the basis of India’s planned submarine programme.(Photo: GDK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)) — A Type 214 submarine, HS Papanikolis (S-120), at the ex HDW (today TKMS) shipyard in Kiel. The German-designed platform is expected to form the basis of India’s planned submarine programme.
(Photo: GDK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0))

Pistorius made the remarks during a visit to the Kiel-based submarine builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), where the two ministers jointly inspected a Type 212A submarine. By signing the plan, defence-industrial cooperation would be “taken to the next level”, Pistorius said. Both countries stand to benefit, he added, not only industrially but also in terms of their armed forces.

India, the world’s largest arms importer

India is also seeking to build six submarines Type 214 in Mumbai in partnership with TKMS, in a programme valued at around €8 billion. Domestic approval procedures are currently under way, Pistorius said during his visit to the shipyard. “I am very confident we will be able to sign soon,” he added, expecting a decision within the next three months.According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India remains the world’s largest arms importer. Between 2019 and 2023, however, 36 per cent of its defence imports still came from Russia - albeit on a declining trend. Increased German exports could therefore help reduce New Delhi’s reliance on Russian suppliers.

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