Following the $8 billion submarine deal, Germany has given India another offer, attempting to forge ties with the Air Force after already partnering with the Navy
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Recently, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited India on a two-day trip. During this visit, an agreement was signed for the construction of killer submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of approximately 72,000 crore rupees. India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems will jointly manufacture these submarines. Chancellor Friedrich Merz participated in several events in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Germany offers India another deal
Following the submarine deal, Germany has now offered a special proposal for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. Germany is advocating for the selection of the Airbus A400M Atlas. Germany has stated that if India chooses the Airbus A400M Atlas as its medium transport aircraft, it will be manufactured in India. Germany has presented a local production roadmap under which up to 85% of the aircraft will be manufactured in India.
Germany has conveyed that if the Indian Air Force selects the A400M for 66 to 80 new transport aircraft, a production unit will be set up in India in collaboration with Indian companies. The aircraft manufactured in these factories will be supplied to the Indian Air Force, and these facilities will also serve as a global supply hub for A400M aircraft.
Germany’s proposal also includes setting up a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India for the Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop engine. If this happens, it will boost India’s high-tech aerospace service sector. This will also reduce the maintenance costs for the Indian Air Force.
Features of the Airbus A400M Atlas
The Indian Air Force has been trying to acquire new transport aircraft for a long time. The Airbus A400M Atlas can carry a payload of approximately 37 tons. This aircraft can transport heavy equipment, such as the Indian Air Force’s new Zorawar light tank, to challenging terrains like Ladakh and Sikkim. It can also take off and land from short runways located in high-altitude and difficult areas.
A400M transport aircraft are used by the air forces of several countries worldwide. The Indian Air Force is evaluating several aircraft to replace its aging Antonov An-32 fleet, including the Airbus A400M Atlas. Other contenders in the race include the Lockheed Martin C-130J and the Embraer C-390 Millennium, both four-engine aircraft. The entire deal is worth more than $10 billion.
