The Defence Acquisition Council has approved the purchase of 156 Prachand attack helicopters and 97 more Tejas aircraft, which will greatly benefit both India’s military and defense industry. These transactions are worth about ₹ 1.1 lakh crore, and both aircraft are domestically developed.
The Indian Air Force is acquiring Tejas Mark 1-A fighters, while the Army and Air Force are acquiring helicopters. The overall sum has been cleared for other deals that include towed gun systems and anti-ship missiles, totaling ₹ 2.23 lakh crore.
98% of the total, or Rs 2.2 lakh crore, will come from domestic industries. Ultimately, this will lead to employment creation as well as a significant defensive advantage for ‘aatmanirbharta’.
In the history of India, this is the largest order book that local manufacturers have ever received. However, an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has already been given; subsequent contract negotiations with manufacturers will take place. While it will take time, it might not take as long as it would have if foreign manufacturers had been involved.
The Cabinet Committee on Security will provide the final approval after a final price has been negotiated. It can require at least ten years for the final admission into the military.
Under the direction of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the council also approved a significant improvement for the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI on Thursday. With more than 260 Su-30 aircraft in the IAF, the upgrade is anticipated to be domestically produced and include radars, avionics, and subsystems created in India. It is anticipated that 84 aircraft will be upgraded at first.
The Council also approved the modern towed gun system to replace the Indian field gun, which has outlived its useful life. In addition to being more transportable, towed gun systems feature longer barrels, which extends their shooting range. Additionally, the 155-mm Nubless projectile, which will increase the artillery guns’ lethality and safety, was granted the AoN.
In order to support the Russian T-90 tanks’ combat edge, the Council approved the purchase and installation of sophisticated computers and automatic target trackers.
The Navy is now able to purchase medium-range anti-ship missiles. These missiles are anticipated to be surface-to-surface, lightweight weapons that will serve as ships’ main offensive weaponry. These purchases will all fall under the “Buy (Indian-IDDM)” category. Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured is what IDDM stands for.
The acquisition of two distinct types of anti-tank bombs has also been approved.
An electronic warfare suite, an active electronically-scanned array radar, and the ability to refuel airborne are among the crucial operational characteristics of the Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft, a fourth-generation fighter produced and constructed in the country. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the company that created it (HAL).
In February 2019, the first fighter jet manufactured in India was given the all-clear to be incorporated into the Indian Air Force and become a fully-fledged weapon.
Last year, the IAF and the Army received their first batch of Prachand Light Combat Helicopters. With a service ceiling of about 21,000 feet, the 5.8-tonne twin-engine helicopter, also created by HAL, is mainly intended for use in high-altitude areas like Siachen and the upper regions of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
The addition of additional Prachand helicopters will contribute to the IAF’s attack chopper fleet’s diversification, which presently includes Russian Mi-35s, US-built Apaches, and HAL Rudras.
