India's efforts to make a nuclear submarine on its own is "on schedule", Defence Minister AK Antony said on Wednesday.
"The efforts for the production of an Advanced Technology Vehicle-- an acronym for nuclear submarine-- is going on as per schedule", Antony said in reply to a volley of questions on the subject during an interaction in New Delhi.
Citing country's national interest, the Minister declined to elaborate.
Defence Ministry officials have said the country's first indigenous ATV would be ready for sea trials by 2009.
India is also in the process of acquiring advanced Russian nuclear submarines on lease. Though Indian officials were tightlipped, Russian sources said the first of these subs would be delivered by next year.
After the interaction, Antony told PTI that no fresh progress had been made in resolving the delivery of Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Groshkov though negotiations were on.
The two countries are deadlocked over the pricing of the warship. India is supposed to get the delivery of the aircraft carrier next year but Russia told India that they cannot stick to the time schedule due to heavy cost overuns on the warship's upgrading.