Germany, India Near $8 Billion Submarine Deal with Tech Transfer

• Germany and India are finalizing an $8 billion submarine manufacturing agreement, marking India's largest defense deal.
• The agreement includes crucial technology transfer for submarine production, a first for India.
• German firm Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH and India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. will collaborate on manufacturing.
• The deal, negotiated ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's India visit, aims to reduce India's reliance on Russian weapons.
• New submarines will feature air-independent propulsion systems, enhancing endurance and New Delhi's policing capabilities in the Indian Ocean.

Why It Matters: India secures its largest defense deal with Germany, gaining vital submarine tech and reducing Russian dependence.