Indian Navy to upgrade two Type 209/1500 submarines

German submarine specialist Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has landed a contract to modernize two Indian Navy Type 209/1500 submarines.

According to a company spokesperson, the contract is worth 35 million Euros with additional options included. Work is to be undertaken at an Indian shipyard.

TKMS India managing director Gurnad Sodhi said the contract was an important milestone for the company and that TKMS was capable and ready to integrate any weapon system the Indian Navy opts for.

The Indian Navy operates a total of four Type 209/1500 Shishumar-class diesel-electric submarines. The first two vessels were built by the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) at Kiel, while the remainder were built at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).

While the boats are currently armed with wire-guided active/passive torpedoes, the two modernized submarines will be fitted Harpoon anti-ship missiles.