In a move that signals India’s growing commitment to strengthen its own security, the country’s Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved two new deals that will significantly enhance its defense capabilities.
These deals include the construction of two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) and the acquisition of 31 Predator drones (MQ-9B) from U.S. defense-contractor General Atomics. Both are smart strategic decisions that underscore India’s willingness to safeguard its interests, strengthen its capacity, and modernize its defense architecture.
New Delhi has an eye on China, of course. As Beijing continues to assert its influence and military presence across the Indian Ocean and beyond, India’s investments in undersea warfare and unmanned aerial systems are timely and necessary. However, the procurement of SSNs and the acquisition of MQ-9Bs are more than just a response to China’s rise. They represent India’s broader ambition to act as a key player in the Indo-Pacific's security architecture.
The Indian Navy, already operating nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, has long advocated for the additional procurement of nuclear-powered attack submarines. This project, which is estimated to cost an initial $5.4 billion, will make the Indian Navy far more capable of defending its interests in the Indian Ocean.
Nuclear-powered submarines are the apex predator of undersea warfare and offer a versatile offensive capability for conventional warfare and force projection. Australian defense policymakers entered into the AUKUS agreement with the United States in order to purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines based on a similar analysis.
India has long recognized the importance of indigenous defense manufacturing and self-reliance under the “Make in India” initiative, and the procurement of SSNs represents a new frontier that enhances India’s defense capabilities while simultaneously reducing dependency on foreign suppliers such as the Russian Akula-class SSN, which India previously leased until 2021.
Moreover, the SSNs are critical for the Indian Navy to match the growing power of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, which has 12 nuclear-powered submarines and continues to expand. The nuclear-powered attack submarines will allow India to conduct extended patrols, including around the Strait of Malacca and in the South China Sea.
Also significant is India’s decision to purchase 31 Predator Drones from the United States, valued at approximately $3.99 billion. The MQ-9B purchase, which includes 16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), will enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities of India’s armed forces.
These advanced MQ-9B drones will also provide India the capacity for precision strikes on strategic targets. Most importantly, this deal reflects India’s deepening defense partnership with the United States, which has been growing steadily through bilateral channels and multilateral initiatives such as the Quad.
This acquisition comes at a time when the Indian Ocean is increasingly becoming a theater of strategic competition, particularly with China's expanding naval footprint and its aggressive maritime ambitions. Amid growing concerns over illicit maritime activities and the presence of Chinese surveillance vessels in the Indian Ocean, the MQ-9B drones will give India an ability to monitor and respond swiftly to increased Chinese aggression. These Predator drones will further enable real-time intelligence gathering and targeted operations throughout the vast Indian Ocean.
By enhancing its undersea warfare capabilities and expanding its surveillance and strike potential, India’s recent two deals represent concrete steps to safeguard its maritime interests, protect critical sea lanes, and strengthen its role as a key player in the region.
Wilson Beaver is the Policy Advisor for defense budgeting in The Heritage Foundation's Allison Center for National Security. Elizabeth Lapporte was a member of Heritage’s Young Leaders Program.
