India has approved plans to construct two new nuclear-powered attack submarines. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 450 billion.

As the country works to modernize its military in response to China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean region, the focus is on strengthening naval capabilities and enhancing domestic weapons manufacturing.

Officials stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet approved the construction of the first two submarines in a new class of six planned by the Indian Navy. However, they did not provide a timeline for their delivery. The officials, who requested anonymity, refrained from giving further details.

China, with the world's largest naval force comprising over 370 ships, has been a security concern for India since 2020, when clashes along their Himalayan border resulted in the deaths of 24 troops. Nuclear-powered attack submarines, which are faster, quieter, and capable of staying underwater longer than conventional diesel-powered ones, are considered some of the most powerful naval weapons due to their difficulty in detection.

Currently, only a few countries, including China, France, Russia, and the United States, manufacture these submarines. India, which previously leased two nuclear-powered submarines from Russia and has since returned them, is reportedly in discussions to lease another one.

The new submarines will be built at a government shipbuilding facility in Visakhapatnam, located in southern India. Construction major Larsen and Toubro is also expected to be part of the project, one of the sources mentioned.

These submarines will differ from the Arihant-class nuclear-powered submarines that India is currently constructing, which are capable of launching nuclear weapons. The second of the Arihant-class submarines was commissioned in August.