German Type 214 submarine
India has chosen the German Type 214 submarine over Spain’s S-80 design for the long-delayed Project 75(I). According to the Times of India on August 24, 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the proposal, allowing Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) to begin contract negotiations with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
The contract, worth more than 70,000 crore rupees (nearly $8.4 billion), calls for the construction of six Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) submarines as part of the “Make in India” initiative. This decisive step puts an end to months of delays and establishes the Type 214 submarine as the focal point of India’s underwater modernisation drive.
Project 75 (I): India’s Flagship Submarine Programme
Project 75 is India’s lead conventional submarine project aimed at rejuvenating the Navy’s subsurface strength. Six French-designed Scorpène-class submarines were built on licence at MDL in the first phase, with the final one scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.
The successor project, Project 75(I), aims to build six more advanced submarines with AIP technology, longer endurance, and greater strike capability. By selecting the Type 214 submarine, India not only expands its submarine fleet but also gains deep technology transfer and increased local industry participation.
Why India Selected the Type-214 Submarine
The German Type 214 submarine is an export variant of the Type 212, designed for blue-water operations and long-range patrol. With a displacement of 1,800 tonnes, the submarine has an established fuel-cell-based AIP system that allows it to stay underwater for up to three weeks without surfacing.
The Type 214 submarine, which is equipped with heavy torpedoes and anti-ship missile technology, also has advanced combat management systems and sensors that allow it to operate in various domains. It has a crew of about 30 people, and the design combines stealth with operational performance, resulting in low acoustic signatures, which are critical in contested maritime environments.
Type 214 versus Spanish S-80: A Strategic Comparison
Navantia’s S-80 submarine has a displacement of nearly 3,000 tonnes, almost double that of the Type 214 submarine. For long overseas deployments, the S-80 has a bioethanol-based AIP system. However, a series of technical issues and delays have plagued the programme.
In comparison, the German Type 214 submarine has operated with the naval forces of Greece, South Korea, and Turkey. Its proven operational competence, stealth, and dependability eventually outweighed the S-80’s theoretical advantage in size and endurance. As a result, for New Delhi, the Type 214 submarine was the less risky and more combat-ready option.
Geopolitical Background: India, Pakistan, and China.
India’s commissioning of the Type 214 submarine puts it squarely in competition with Pakistan’s Yuan-class submarines, built with Chinese assistance. The Yuan-class, with a displacement of around 3,600 tonnes, also has AIP capability. Much of its design, however, is based on Chinese adaptations of Russian and German technologies.
India’s decision to acquire the Type 214 submarine reflects its preference for quality and established engineering standards, in contrast to Pakistan’s accustomed focus on numbers and prices. China’s submarine activities in the Indian Ocean and Pakistan’s growing naval capabilities have prompted India to seek a credible sea-based deterrence.
Technology Transfer and “Make in India”
This deal is more than just a purchase. It strengthens India’s defense industry by establishing a technology transfer mechanism between TKMS and MDL. Under the “Make in India” program, the project enables significant domestic participation, long-term assistance, and eventual submarine design self-sufficiency.
The Type 214 submarine deal, like the Tejas fighter and Arjun tank projects, exemplifies India’s overall strategy of acquiring foreign expertise to boost indigenous capability.
India’s Expanding Naval Strategy
The choice of the Type 214 submarine is consistent with India’s new maritime strategy. The Indian Ocean has become a battleground, with China expanding its naval presence by building bases, leasing ports, and conducting submarine patrol missions. Meanwhile, Pakistan is modernising its fleet to counter India’s maritime superiority.
India plans to protect its shipping routes, balance China’s military presence, and ensure it can respond effectively in case of an attack by improving its underwater capabilities, which will include conventional submarines with AIP technology and nuclear attack submarines. The Type 214 submarine is thus central to India’s transformation from a coastal defense force to a regional naval power with global ambitions.
