India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited a submarine construction facility operated by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in Germany, where he inspected advanced naval technologies and tried to board a Type 212-class conventional submarine, but got stuck in its narrow hatch.
During the tour, Rajnath Singh entered the Type 212 submarine through its narrow circular hatch, briefly taking extra effort to navigate the tight entryway before successfully stepping inside.
The visit is part of broader defence and industrial cooperation engagements between India and Germany, focusing on submarine technology, naval modernization, and strategic defence partnerships.
Inside the facility, Singh reviewed submarine design systems and production capabilities, highlighting India’s growing interest in advanced underwater defence platforms.
According to reports, Germany expects to soon sign an final agreement with India about a planned $8 billion submarine cooperation between the two countries, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters recently. "I am very, very confident that I will be able to sign it soon," Pistorius said, adding he expected a signing within the next three months.
India has already cleared an agreement with Germany that includes long-term support, export rules, and price discussions. A company called Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is working with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to build these submarines.
Reports say that their plan to work together was approved earlier, and then both sides spent time fixing technical details and final costs. The goal is to build six submarines in India itself, which will also help local industry grow.