India And Germany Seek Increased Military Cooperation: Investment In UP, TN Defence Corridors, Submarine Production Likely

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has highlighted new investment opportunities for German companies in the two new defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, to his German counterpart Boris Pistorius.

The German Defence Minister Pistorius is on a four-day visit to India to enhance bilateral defence cooperation.

Singh and Pistorius reviewed the ongoing defence partnership and explored ways to enhance defence collaboration, particularly in production of arms and ammunition in India, for India and for the world.

Singh said, "India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and high technologies and investment from Germany."

The German Defence Minister Pistorius, on the other hand, said, "India is a strategic partner, Germany and India share common values and common interests especially with regard to the rules-based international order, multilateralism and open sea lines of communication."

"Indeed, during my visit here in India this might be discussed. There will also be an exchange with industry," Pistorius added.

The Indian Navy is looking for acquire six new-generation diesel-electric submarines. The German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is planning to bid with Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL) for the $5.2 billion submarine contract.

Talking about submarine cooperation Pistorius said, "I’m looking forward to potential cooperation on key technology with regard to submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)".

He also said, "but I think the German industry is at a good place in the race", adding that "the German defence industry, especially manufacturers, has an excellent reputation. But, of course, there are competitors, and that's no secret. And it will be a question of who will prevail".

Pistorius also visited Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) start-ups at Research & Innovation Park, IIT Delhi where the German Defence Minister was shown game-changing technologies developed by Indian start-ups on augmented reality/virtual reality, energy systems, smart drones and anti-drone systems, space propulsion systems and other allied technologies.

The visit also brought into focus the promotion of co-development and co-production in India, including potential areas and projects where Indian and German start-ups can work together.