New Delhi: Giving a further boost to the Indian Navy’s firepower, the defence ministry on Saturday cleared the acquisition and deployment of BrahMos missiles on the four new warships to be built in partnership with Russia.

“The Cabinet Committee on Security led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared the acquisition of warships of Project 1135.6 of the Navy in October. Now, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) led by Nirmala Sitharaman has approved the proposal to equip the two warships to be produced in Russia with BrahMos cruise missiles, which would be their main weapon,” a defence ministry official said.

Two of the warships will be constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. In India, the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) will develop the warships under the ‘Male in India scheme l’.

As per the plan, Russia will take four years to deliver the two Krivak class frigates armed with BrahMos cruise missiles. The Goa Shipyard is expected to take six to seven years.

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BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile which is a joint venture between India and Russia. The missile is being inducted into the armed forces in large numbers but the armed forces have been raising the issue of the high cost of the weapon system, which will serve from land, sea and air in the three services.

The DAC also approved the procurement of Arjun tank recovery vehicles and their carrier transports under a proposal worth around Rs 700 crore.