Renewed defence ties with Germany hinge upon how India's needs are met

Defence industrial ties between India and Germany have made a sure-footed re-start, the first attempt by the two to partner since the late 1980’s —- the period of the Cold War – when they had jointly built four submarines for the Indian Navy.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s bridged a vital gap between the two countries. A joint declaration to develop a defence industrial cooperation roadmap was announced to promote long-term industry-level collaboration, including technology partnerships, co-development and co-production of defence platforms and equipment.

India would need to be ready to absorb the military technology, especially through its private sector and not let the gains fritter away, as it did in the early 1990’s and missed taking forward the acquired knowledge on submarine making. Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) of Germany had made two of the four submarines – contracted in the late 1980’s — in India at the Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai in 1992 and 1994, respectively. India did not build any more submarines for 15 years and then opted for the French origin Scorpene class.

For India, Germany, could be a second European defence industrial partner after France. Companies from France are in existing tie-up with Indian companies: Dassault for making the Rafale fighter jets; the naval group for making the Scorpene class submarines; Safran for making helicopter engines; MBDA for making missiles; Thales for making avionics .

Address New Delhi’s needs

Berlin, on its part has made a positive start with its Cabinet adopting a 32-page document called ‘Focus on India’ to allow defence technology exports to India. However, the European country will need to show long-term intent, across its own diverse political spectrum that a partnership with India would carry on and resist pressure from US or its other European allies.

New Delhi is looking at immediate needs– of submarines and UAV’s. The German Type-214 conventional submarine with air-independent propulsion offered by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in on offer in partnership with MDL. India is seeking specific transfer of technology for its long term needs. The German government is fully behind the bid of TKMS. It is expected to be finalised in the next few months and will signal the biggest defence deal since the Cold War era to make four submarines.

On the UAV’s the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its German counterpart, Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) are working together.

Germany, has joined hands with France, Italy, and Spain for the UAV. India seeks to a future partner, but on certain terms. UAV, called Eurodrone has capabilities including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, combined with potential maritime variants supporting anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning functions. India is looking at these very capabilities.

Germany needs to eschew reference to Russia

Berlin will need to eschew any references to Russia in its defence ties with New Delhi, or make suggestions seeking to reduce Moscow’s military hardware supplies to India.

German document ‘Focus on India’, outlines cooperation with India and says “We want India to rely more strongly on German arms companies as partners in future… so that it can free itself further from its arms-related orientation towards Russia”. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s on Monday called for deeper cooperation between Indian and German industries and referred to India’s traditional dependence on Russia for military hardware.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, had to clarify that sourcing of military equipment from Germany should not be linked to the any other country, indicating that India’s ties with Russia stand.