High-Level Spanish Defence Official to Advocate Submarine Deal in Delhi

Amid Germany's push for an Inter-Governmental Agreement to sell six advanced conventional submarines to India, a prominent defence official from Spain—the second contender for the Indian Navy's tender—is set to visit Delhi next week.

Scheduled for March 7 and 8, the visit of Spanish Secretary of State for Defence, Amparo Valcarce, is anticipated to focus significantly on discussions related to the submarine deal during her meetings with her Indian counterpart, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, according to diplomatic sources.

With Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Spain's state-owned Navantia being the sole entities meeting the criteria to submit bids for the Navy's substantial P-75I submarines deal (projected to exceed ₹43,000 crore), the deadline for submissions concluded in July 2023. Navantia has joined forces with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), while TKMS has partnered with MDL, the only two Indian companies shortlisted. The deal is progressing under the strategic partnership model outlined in the defence acquisition procedure.

As reported earlier by The Hindu, Germany has proposed a government-to-government arrangement for the sale of six submarines to India, with a high-level team visiting in January to discuss the proposal.

Under the partnership agreement between Navantia and L&T, the Spanish firm will design the P-75I submarines based on its S-80 class, the first of which was launched in 2021 and delivered to the Spanish Navy last November, while L&T will be responsible for the actual construction of the submarines.