MDL and TKMS partnership becomes sole bidder for India’s $8 billion P751 contract
A 214 class submarine. TKMS offered an enlarged version in its pitch for the P75I submarine. (Image: TKMS)
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and its partner, Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), have emerged as the sole bidders for the Indian Navy’s (IN) Request for Proposal for a US$8 billion submarine contract.
The Project P75I contract covers the construction of six advanced diesel-electric attack submarines with the Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system for MDL-TKMS Type-214. The contract will be signed in 2026, Shephard has learnt.
Alternative bidders Larsen & Toubro (L&T), in partnership with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, did not pass the IN’s final technical evaluation, as the AIP of the S-80 was not proven in sea trials despite having been demonstrated onshore.
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
SAHA 2026: Aselsan seeks to replicate Turkey’s UAV success at sea
Turkey’s defence electronics company has unveiled two new uncrewed naval systems at SAHA 2026 – but the harder test will be converting it into an export success.
-
Canada boosts Arctic presence as CCGS Donjek prepares for sea trials this year
CCGS Donjek is currently being prepared to start testing and be handed over to the Canadian Coast Guard in the second half of 2026.
-
US Navy to accelerate the replenishment of SM-6 stocks as demand continues to surge
The Naval Sea Systems Command exercised a US$335 million modification to a contract with RTX Raytheon to support increasing the production of Standard Missiles 6 by 2030. Shephard spoke with the company president about how the company has scaled to meet demand.
-
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.