Posted on 02/18/2015 5:50:25 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
(Reuters) - The government has cleared a $8 billion plan to build India's most advanced warships, defence sources said, just months after ordering new submarines to close the gap with the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean.
Since taking over last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled his resolve to build a strong military after years of neglect that military planners say has left India unable to fight a two-front war against China and Pakistan.
India's navy has been rattled in recent months after Chinese submarines docked in Sri Lanka, just off its southern coast, underlining the growing reach of the Chinese navy after years of staying closer to its shores.
Modi summoned a meeting of the cabinet committee on security on Monday to approve construction of seven frigates equipped with stealth features to avoid easy detection, a defence ministry source said.
The Times of India said the government had also approved six nuclear-powered submarines for a further $8 billion. The defence source said he had no knowledge of the nuclear submarine programme, which traditionally has been kept under wraps.
The frigates in a programme called Project-17A will be built at government shipyards in Mumbai and Kolkata, in a boost for Modi's Make in India campaign to build a domestic defence industrial base and reduce dependence on expensive imports that have made India the world's biggest arms market.
(Excerpt) Read more at in.reuters.com ...
It won’t be long before India passes China in population. India could be the super power that China can only dream about. China may be focused on us while India will be their real competitor. The Indians won’t foster Chinese industrialization.
India is part of real civilization and is on China's flank. China cannot project power to the Gulf nations...even Pakistan/Iran/Africa without first going through India.
This forces China to keep a large portion of their assets pointed in that direction, and, they'll never feel safe with a legit medium-sized Nuclear power up their ass.
And, of course, when they look to Pacific Waters, they see Australia, Japan, SKorea, Taiwan ...several other lesser powers...and the Seventh Fleet.
If I was them I'd scared.
India might want to peel some funds off of this plan to get every Indian a toilet. Just saying.
The stupid ChiComm apes have slit their own throats with its one-child policy.
By 2030, the average age in China will be 50 years. In India, the average age will be 30.
China will be on the fast-track to Third World status. India will be the No.1 economic and military power in Asia.
BTW, if you want to retire Uncle Scrooge rich in 15 years, invest in telecoms working in India. The appetite in India for broadband gadgets is insatiable.
They ended the “one child policy” a couple years ago.
Ain’t that the truth! Besides, before people get too cheery about India, let’s not forget that they are not really an ally of ours. They might like our dollars, but they are not friends. We should be sinking that navy...
Good take.
That sounds like a socialist talking. Why is it the responsibility of any government to be the nanny of every dependent? That is how Obama thinks. Build your own doggone toilet. Like my parents did in India back in 1940 with flush toilets. They did not beg other tax payers to help them via government taxes.
“They ended the one child policy a couple years ago.”
Too late. The Chicomms doomed the country.
A Naval war for control of the Indian Ocean looks like it will happen in the future—maybe as part of WW III? India is wise to build its navy up—but she shouldn’t count on old Russian ship—she would be better off with US vessels or English ships.
An open barrel with two planks of wood over the top end will do for every ship. Not sophisticated, but cheap.
I’m sure the ships will have appropriate plumbing. I was referring to the nation as a whole, where lots and lots of folks still crap in vacant lots, fields, beaches, streets, etc.
What do you have against H1B visa workers? Most are computer programmers, which is easy to learn, and that is why there are ten’s of millions of programmers in Asia. We benefit by importing cheap programmers. My advice to programmers is acquire something more difficult to learn skill such as chemical engineering, bio-medical engineering, etc. because there is a chronic shortage of skilled people in those fields.
I doubt India will buy another Russian aircraft carrier after the last debacle. Unlike China, India has a history of operating aircraft carriers. Also unlike China, India launched it’s first home built aircraft carrier this month.
Screw that. There is no difference in companies importing H1b workers or illegals coming to the U.S. both take American jobs, drive wages down, and have no respect for the U.S.
Yes, I realize you meant the nation as a whole. I was remembering what my ancestors went through coming to the USA on a ship decades ago, crowded conditions and they actually did have to crap while sitting on a barrel on a ship deck. I've worked with people from India. What they describe of the lower castes and poor is appalling. Many are still wiping with their bare left hand rather than with toilet paper. A nation both modern and barbaric. One of my co-workers returned frequently, mentioning that there are villages where young girls walk around topless and can be had for a pittance - disgusting me but thrilling him to mention it. Worst conditions in the USA seem like paradise in comparison. India has a long way to go before it will be considered a superpower.
Maybe that’s why the US is selling the Indian navy P-8 aircraft and probably S-70 helos.
Yes, despite that. Besides, how many other countries do we sale or give aid to that are not really our allies?
Personally, we should insist on India be demilitarized as its military is just as likely to be used to deter us as anyone else. A bit late on China, but shouldn’t India focus instead on helping its own people instead of exporting them to the US and elsewhere? China’s not really a threat to them anyway.
That is completely ignorant. Its not easy to learn. Please list out your programming skills.
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