The Cabinet Committee on Defense on Wednesday approved major deals to indigenously build two nuclear submarines and buy 31 Predator drones from the US to boost the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Navy and defense forces. The Cabinet Committee on Defense approved deals worth a total of Rs 80,000 crore.
The Indian Navy will get two nuclear-powered attack submarines which will help in enhancing its capabilities manifold in the Indian Ocean region. According to sources, the deal to build two submarines at the Ship Building Center in Visakhapatnam is worth around Rs 45,000 crore and will have major participation from private sector firms like Larsen & Toubro.
The deal was pending for a long time
The deal was long pending and the Indian Navy was pushing for it as it was a critical requirement to address the shortfall in underwater capability. Under India’s indigenous submarine induction plan, there are plans to include six such submarines in its fleet in the long term.
Bought 31 Predator drones from American General Atomics
These submarines, being built under the ambitious Project Advanced Technology Vessel Project, are different from the five nuclear submarines being built under the Arihant class at the same location. The second big deal approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security is to purchase 31 Predator drones from American General Atomics.
This deal is under the Foreign Military Sales contract between India and America. The deal had to be approved before October 31 because the US proposal was valid only till then. Now it will be signed in the next few days.
Air Force will get eight drones each
He said that as per the contract, the defense forces will start receiving the drones four years after signing the deal. Indian Navy will get 15 out of 31 drones. The Army and Air Force will get eight drones each.