India to Construct Additional Stealth Destroyers

The Indian Government has agreed to indigenously construct four guided-missile stealth destroyers under the Project-15B programme at Mazagon Docks, Mumbai, India.

The Rs300bn ($6.54bn) project will be undertaken at MDL after the three Kolkata Class 6,700t destroyers are finally delivered in 2012-2014.

The Indian Navy intends to become a three-dimensional blue-water force whilst maintaining a fleet of 140 surface and sub-surface combatants, an aircraft carrier and three additional Talwar-class stealth frigates.

The navy has around 30 warships, six submarines and two fleet tankers under construction in Russia, Italy and various Indian shipyards, according to The Times of India.

The Project-15B programme has received clearance from India’s Cabinet Committee on Security.