NEW DELHI — India is working toward having a sea-based nuclear deterrent capability within next three years, the country’s security adviser says. The work on the development of the “third leg of the triad [of nuclear delivery systems], which is submarine-based, is in progress,” says Shyam Saran, chairman of the country’s National Security Advisory Board. “It is expected that a modest sea-based deterrence will be in place by 2015 or 2016.”

India’s Jet Airways has sold a 24% stake to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, the first such deal with a foreign carrier since last year’s change to India’s ownership laws. Under the strategic equity alliance signed April 24, the Middle East carrier will subscribe to 27.3 million new shares of Jet Airways at 754.74 rupees ($13.92) per share. The two airlines have been negotiating the sale since September 2012.

NEW DELHI — India plans to expedite the purchase of nine new special-mission aircraft for communications jamming, signals intelligence and surveillance for its air force. The proposal, worth around $200 million, was approved over the weekend at a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council, the top decision-making body of India’s defense ministry, an India defense ministry official says. The defense ministry will soon issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to buy the aircraft, the official says.