India has approved plans to develop two nuclear-powered attack submarines, marking a significant step in enhancing its naval power amid concerns over China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
The project, estimated at 450 billion rupees ($5.4 billion), is part of India’s broader push to modernize its military and strengthen its domestic defense manufacturing.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet has given the green light for the construction of the first two submarines from a planned fleet of six, though details on the timeline for completion remain undisclosed, according to two defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The focus on nuclear-powered submarines stems from their superiority over conventional diesel-powered ones.
They are faster, quieter, and capable of staying submerged for extended periods, making them harder to detect and highly effective for naval operations. Only a few countries, including China, France, Russia, and the U.S., currently possess such submarines.
India has previously leased two nuclear submarines from Russia, which have since been returned, but discussions are ongoing to lease another. The new submarines will be constructed at the government shipbuilding facility in Visakhapatnam, with Larsen & Toubro, a major Indian company, expected to be involved in the project.
These submarines will be distinct from the Arihant-class nuclear submarines India is currently developing, which are designed to carry nuclear missiles. The second Arihant-class submarine was commissioned in August.