NEW DELHI - Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems division is planning to pursue opportunities in India and arrangements should be announced this year, Aerospace Daily has learned.

The Ship Systems division will follow the lead of Northrop's Integrated Defense Systems and Electronics divisions in tapping opportunities in India.

The Indian navy plans to induct 120 warships and 12 submarines over the next decade to protect its maritime interests and expand its influence in the Indian Ocean region.

The trend has been set as the U.S. hands over USS Trenton, the 17,000-ton Austin-class amphibious transport warship, to the Indian navy for $48 million. A crew of more than 300 Indians are training in Norfolk, Va. In mid-January Trenton will set sail for India and be introduced into the Indian navy in mid-2008.

Besides landing troops during war and rescue operations, the renamed INS Jalashva can also function as a command and control platform during offshore and mid-sea mishaps.

It will be India's second-largest warship, after the 28,000-ton Hermes-class aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

The Indian navy recently submitted a plan to the government suggesting India acquire know-how to build supertankers and seek transfer of the technology to build the same class of warships as giant U.S. carriers.

India has been in discussions with the U.S. concerning production of three frigates for the past year.

With existing shipyards unable to manage the increasing demand, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems might consider induction of new technologies and ship design know-how.