The Indian government on Wednesday gave long-awaited clearance for a project to build two nuclear-powered attack submarines, national media have reported, citing sources. The project cost is estimated at around 450 billion rupees ($5.4 billion).
New Delhi has also cleared a deal to acquire 31 weaponized MQ-9B Predator drones from the US for an additional $4 billion, as part of a long-term plan to counter China in the region, sources told the Times of India. The article noted that both platforms will be able to “quietly gather intelligence, track enemy targets at extended ranges, and then destroy them if required.”
A source told the paper that it will take 10 to 12 years to commission the vessel, termed an SSN – meaning ‘ship submersible, nuclear’ – which will have a 190 MW pressurized light-water reactor and displacement of almost 10,000 tons.