The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared two major defense procurement deals for the Indian Navy, totaling Rs 45,000 crore. These agreements include the indigenous construction of two nuclear-powered attack submarines and the acquisition of 31 Predator drones from the United States.
The submarines will be built at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, with significant involvement from private sector companies, such as Larsen & Toubro. These submarines are part of India’s broader efforts to enhance its naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean, where the country plans to eventually operate a total of six nuclear-powered attack submarines. The new vessels will be built under the Project Advanced Technology Vessel initiative, separate from the ongoing Arihant-class submarine construction at the same facility.
In addition to the submarine project, the Cabinet has approved a deal for 31 Predator drones, which will be acquired through a Foreign Military Sales contract with the United States. The agreement must be finalized by the end of October, as per the terms of the American proposal. The first deliveries of the drones are expected to begin four years after the contract is signed.
Under the distribution plan, the Indian Navy will receive 15 drones, while the Indian Army and Indian Air Force will each receive eight. The drones will be deployed at two bases in Uttar Pradesh, and there may be some domestic manufacturing involvement, with equipment from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private firm Solar Industries. The drones are expected to enhance surveillance capabilities.