Move is seen as a way to narrow India’s huge gap with China’s advanced naval warfare systems while boosting Modi’s push to manufacture defence equipment locally
India has cleared an $8billion plan to build seven warships as part of a twin push to ramp up local production and counter an increasing assertive China, a Defence Ministry official said on Thursday.
The move is seen as a way to narrow India’s huge gap with China’s advanced naval warfare systems while boosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to manufacture defence equipment locally.
India, which is surrounded by hostile neighbours in Pakistan and China, is in the midst of a multi-billion-dollar upgrade of its ageing military hardware and recently lifted a cap on foreign investment in defence.
“The cabinet committee on security has cleared the proposal to build seven stealth frigates at domestic shipyards,” a source in the defence ministry told AFP of the meeting on Monday.
Four warships will be constructed at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai and the other three at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata.
The frigates will be equipped with stealth technology, making it harder to detect by enemy radars or other tracking systems.
The Times of India said the cabinet committee had also given the go-ahead for six nuclear-powered submarines as part of another $8 billion project when it met earlier this week.
Since his sweeping election victory in May, Modi’s right-wing government has cleared several proposals aimed at revamping and renewing the country’s Soviet-era military.
Modi has also worked to shore up regional alliances since he came to power in India, which has a longstanding territorial dispute with China over a remote Himalayan region.
China has also been accused of seeking to develop facilities around the Indian Ocean in a “string of pearls” strategy to counter India’s rise and secure its own economic interests.
The appearance of two Chinese submarines in Sri Lankan waters late last year sparked particular concern in New Delhi, which has traditionally regarded the island as being in its sphere of influence.
Certainly it is not a good news for people of both India and Pakistan. When India will invest such a huge sum of money in defence it will be reciprocated by Pakistan. India was first to bring nuclear weapons to subcontinent and now frigates will launch a new arms race. It may impact already impoverished people of both these countries . India is a country where millions of poor live. Millions are without electricity and education. So why squander away so much in defence budget. India should never be afraid of China an equal adversary or Pakistan a many times smaller nation. China will never invade India , it is manifest truth. These things will not occur in 21st century. India should try to defeat China by improving living standards of its citizens. It should try to resolve all the standing disputes with its neighbors through peaceful means. One other battle ground where India needs to invest is equal rights for its minorities.
PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 18, 2015 RSS, REMOVE MODI AS INDIA’ RULER
HEY STUPID MOHAN BHAGWAT, MODI IS A LOW CASTE WHO WORKS FOR AMERICANS AND JEWS AND IS MAKING INDIA A COUNTRY OF SLAVES
HIS ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ INVITATION TO AMERICANS ONLY MAKES SENSE AS AN OFFER OF INDIANS AS LOW WAGE LABOR TO AMERICANS FOR THE LONG TERM. WHY DOES HE WANT ISRAEL’S HELP TO BUILD ‘SMART’ CITIES WHEN INDIAN COMPANIES CAN PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND INDIAN GOVERNMENT CAN PRINT ALL THE MONEY NEEDED? INDIA CAN BE DOMINANT OVER AMERICANS IMMEDIATELY BY EXPLODIND ITS NUCLEAR WARHEADS ALREADY EMPLACED IN U.S. CITIES WITH A WARNING THAT ADDITIONAL U.S. CITIES WILL BE DESTROYED IF THERE IS ANY RETALIATION OR SIGN OF RETALIATION, AND FORCE AMERICANS TO WORK AS MENIAL LABOR.
Satish Chandra [email protected]
Telephone: 1- 556- 2906 (Canada)
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