CCS approval to 31 US Predator drones

The Cabinet on Committee Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has okayed two strategic projects on Wednesday. These will source 31 armed drones from the US and to make two nuclear powered attack submarines indigenously.

The nuclear powered submarines will be different from the existing indigenous Arihant class nuclear subs. The two subs okayed today, are known, in Naval parlance, as Ship Submarine Nuclear (SSN) — which means they will be nuclear-powered but need not carry nuclear-tipped missiles. The CCS also okayed the acquisition of 31 Predator drones from American company General Atomics under a Foreign Military Sales contract between the two governments. These drones can fly up to 40 hours at stretch. These can be armed with precision strike missiles which can hit targets at sea, on land and in air.