The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday cleared a project worth Rs 43,000 crore to build six conventional submarines to counter the rapid expansion of China’s submarine fleet, sources in the ministry said.
“This is a landmark approval, being the first case processed under the Strategic Partnership model. This would be one of the largest ‘Make in India’ projects and it will create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India,” Rajnath said on Twitter.
The submarines will be built under the strategic partnership model that allows domestic defence manufacturers to join hands with leading foreign firms to produce high-end military platforms to reduce import dependence.
The six submarines will be conventional, diesel-electric vessels and are likely to be equipped with land attack missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles.
Sources said the Indian Navy plans to acquire 24 new submarines, including six nuclear attack submarines, to bolster its underwater fighting capability.
It now has 15 conventional submarines and two nuclear submarines.
The navy has been focusing on significantly bolstering its capabilities in view of China’s efforts to increase its military presence in the Indian Ocean region.
The DAC on Friday also approved proposals concerning capital acquisition of various equipment for modernisation and operational needs of the Indian Armed Forces amounting to Rs 6,800 crore.
