Germany’s RENK Group AG, a global supplier of high-precision drive systems, has inaugurated a new production facility in Shoolagiri, Tamil Nadu, on 21 July, strengthening the company’s industrial and strategic presence in India. The investment highlights a growing defence partnership between Germany and India, as both countries deepen their cooperation across manufacturing, maritime security, aerospace, and battlefield technologies.
The 7,000 square metre facility, operated by RENK Gears Pvt. Ltd., will manufacture gearboxes, slide bearings, and couplings for land and naval platforms. It aims to serve both Indian defence requirements and global markets, while aligning with the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative.
“This plant is not just a production centre—it represents our trust in India’s defence ecosystem and our commitment to deeper industrial cooperation,” said Praveen Mohan, Managing Director of RENK India.
RENK already supplies systems for Indian defence platforms such as the Arjun Main Battle Tank and INS Vikrant, and is involved in new projects including India’s light tank and naval modernisation initiatives.
Germany Scales Up Strategic Defence Engagement in India
The opening of the RENK facility comes amid a broader intensification of Indo-German defence ties, marked by new joint ventures and technology partnerships.
In June 2025, Reliance Defence signed a ₹10,000 crore agreement with Germany’s Diehl Defence to co-manufacture Vulcano precision-guided artillery shells in India. A month earlier, German defence firm Rheinmetall entered into a partnership with Reliance to produce ammunition and battle systems, supporting India’s efforts to reduce dependence on imports.
Germany is also playing a growing role in India’s submarine modernisation programme. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is a leading contender in the ₹45,000 crore Project-75(I) for six advanced diesel-electric submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP). The company is bidding in partnership with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., with negotiations ongoing since early 2025.
Growing Focus on Maritime Technology
In a further boost to Indo-German naval collaboration, India’s state-run Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) signed an MoU in August 2025 with Germany’s Reintjes GmbH, a leading manufacturer of marine propulsion gearboxes. The partnership aims to integrate high-performance gear trains from Reintjes into vessels constructed at GRSE shipyards, including both defence warships and commercial vessels for export.
The collaboration is expected to enhance propulsion efficiency, support technology localisation, and strengthen India’s self-reliance in marine propulsion systems—especially at a time when the country is expanding its naval fleet and exploring export opportunities in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Focus on Drones, Avionics and Battlefield Sensors
In April 2025, RENK India signed a strategic partnership with Munich-based Quantum Systems GmbH to jointly develop and manufacture ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) drone systems in India. The agreement includes joint research, software development, and digital integration tailored to Indian defence needs.
At Aero India 2025, German defence electronics major Hensoldt signed MoUs with two Indian firms:
- With Samtel Avionics to co-develop avionics systems, including lightweight flight recorders and secure communications platforms.
- With Raphe mPhibr to jointly develop a MIMO-based landing aid radar and advanced sensor payloads for UAVs and aircraft.
These efforts aim to localise critical technologies and support India’s push for sovereign capabilities in electronic warfare and aerospace systems.
Naval Exercises and Regional Cooperation
In 2024, German Eurofighter Typhoons participated in India’s first multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti, marking their debut in Indian skies. The engagement underscored growing interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces.
Beyond military exercises, German aerospace and defence companies such as MBDA and Deutsche Aircraft have also signalled interest in collaborating with Indian partners on platforms such as the D328eco turboprop, intended for both regional connectivity and defence transport use.
A Strategic Inflection Point
The expansion of partnerships—from RENK’s Tamil Nadu plant to GRSE’s collaboration with Reintjes—points to a strategic realignment in India’s defence industrial base. Germany is emerging not merely as a supplier, but as a strategic collaborator across critical domains: propulsion systems, munitions, submarines, drones, avionics, and sensors.
India’s emphasis on technology transfer, co-development, and Make in India objectives finds resonance in these deepening ties. For Germany, India presents both a high-growth industrial partner and a strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific.
As these partnerships evolve from contracts to co-engineered solutions, the India–Germany defence relationship is beginning to reflect a mature, capability-driven, and mutually reinforcing strategic alliance.
