German naval systems firm TKMS and India’s VEM Technologies signed an agreement to develop and manufacture heavyweight torpedoes for the Indian Navy in Hyderabad.
German company TKMS and VEM Technologies in India have signed a strategic "Teaming Agreement" for cooperative torpedo production in India, including technology transfer and the combined development of a "Make-in-India". Roughly 500 heavyweight torpedoes per year will be produced for the Indian Navy, according to the agreement.
A teaming agreement is a form of subcontracting in which a smaller company often collaborates with a larger one on a portion of the project. With nearly 9,000 employees, TKMS is a multinational naval systems firm that runs significant shipyards in Brazil and Germany and specializes in submarines, navy surface vessels, maritime electronics, and security technology. The teaming agreement takes place after the two businesses signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2025.
Michael Ozegowski, executive vice-president of Atlas Elektronik, a subsidiary of TKMS, stated that the transfer of our torpedo technology allows VEM to make a significant contribution to the strengthening of the Indian Navy and India's technological independence.
The agreement will serve as the foundation for the development of a heavyweight torpedo for the Indian Navy's current fleet of submarines in the first phase. Later on, more torpedo programs may be included in the collaboration. They will be produced in Hyderabad, and VEM will handle raw material sourcing, fabrication, production, and final assembly.
The businesses intend to form a joint venture in the medium future with the goal of providing contemporary heavyweight torpedoes to the Indian market while simultaneously investigating possible export prospects. As part of the collaboration, TKMS will assist VEM by transferring pertinent software licenses and technologies needed to enable torpedo manufacture in Indian manufacturing facilities.
