Financial Times FT.com

Hunt for sea minerals drives Indian navy

By James Lamont in New Delhi and Varun Sood in Mumbai

Published: September 15 2009 03:00 | Last updated: September 15 2009 03:00

India's ambitious plans to modernise its navy are being driven by a scramble for mineral wealth on the floor of the sea leagues away from the mainland, according to the country's military strategists.

India has one of the world's fastest-growing navies, with 120 vessels. It plans to add almost 100 warships to its fleet over the next decade. Strategists foresee Indian firepower protecting commercial drilling sites in the southern Indian Ocean.

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