NEW DELHI: Deciding to keep its deep penetration strike aircraft Jaguar assembly lines open, the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) on Friday gave the nod to manufacture of 20 more upgraded versions of the planes by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Jaguars, which are being utilized by the Air Force for deeper interdiction as well as for maritime role, would be built at a cost of Rs 2,340 crores, Defence Minister Pranab Mukurjhee told newsmen after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security held for the second day in succession.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan singh and attended by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Finance Minister P Chidambaram besides Mukherjee, also gave sanction to full scale development of 20 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft at the HAL at a cost of Rs 2,439 crores.

The CCS also gave approval for manufacture of Five Inland Patrol vessels for the Coast Guard at a cost of Rs 235 crores at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited.