NEW DELHI, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The Indian government has reportedly given the nod for construction in the country of seven stealth frigates and a half-dozen nuclear-powered submarines.
According to The Times of India, the decision was made by the Cabinet committee on security and is in line with the "critical necessity" for India to bolster its overall deterrence capability.
The building projects will cost as much as $16.1 billion, the newspaper said.
Four of the frigates will be built at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai, while three will be built in Kolkata by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers.
The newspaper said multi-mission frigates will be larger, faster and stealthier than current Shivalik-class vessels and will feature additional weapons and sensors to operate in a multi-threat environment.
Construction of the vessels could take as long as 10 years.
Construction of the ballistic missile-carrying submarines will occur once Indian Navy requirements and specifications are drafted and agreed upon, the newspaper said.
