The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved two major contracts for the construction of nuclear powered submarines (SSNs) and the acquisition of 31 Predator missile launchers from US-based General Atomics. to the massive development of India’s military capability.
The deals were made during a high-level meeting today, as confirmed by security sources in India Today TV.
Two nuclear submarines will be built domestically, at a budget of over Rs 40,000 crore. The project, which will be carried out at the Shipbuilding Center in Visakhapatnam, will heavily involve the Indian private sector, marking a major step in the country’s push to develop the defense industry.
In addition, the Cabinet Committee on Security has given the green light for the acquisition of 31 Predator aircraft from US-based General Atomics. This agreement, organized under the Foreign Military Sales contract between the two countries, is timely, as the American proposal was set to expire on October 31. This agreement is expected to be finalized in the coming days.
According to the contract, the delivery of the drones will begin within four years of the signing of the agreement. Of the 31 drones, the Indian Navy will get 15 units, while the Army and Air Force will get eight.
The Army and Air Force will jointly deploy their drones to two bases in Uttar Pradesh, while the Navy will station its drones at INS Rajali, where it currently operates leased Predator drones.
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