Started project to build six nuclear submarines: Navy chief

New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) India has started the process of building six nuclear submarines indigenously, Indian Navy chief Sunil Lanba said on Friday.

Refusing to give more details, Admiral Lanba, addressing the annual press conference of the Navy ahead of the Navy Day observed on December 4, said these are classified.

Asked about the project for six nuclear-powered attack submarines, he said: "It has kicked off and I leave it at that... because it is also one of the classified (projects), I don't want to share... the process has started."

India's first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine Arihant was quietly inducted in the Indian Navy in August 2016, and the second submarine Aridhaman is to be launched soon.

There are two more nuclear submarines in this class which are under construction, as per informed sources.

Arihant, a submarine that can carry ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads, was the first ballistic missile submarine to have been built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

India at present also has one nuclear submarine, INA Chakra, on lease from Russia and is likely to get one more nuclear powered submarine on lease.