Defence Ministry clears Rs 1.10 lakh crore military procurement proposals
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The Defence Ministry on Monday cleared military procurement proposals worth around Rs 1.10 lakh crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force, including advanced light helicopters, radars, mechanical mine layers and electronic warfare systems.
The proposals were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as part of efforts to strengthen the armed forces’ operational capabilities and promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first stage of the procurement process, for acquisitions estimated at about Rs 1,10,000 crore.
For the Army, the approvals include Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance vehicles, high-mobility vehicles, self-propelled mechanical mine layers, advanced light helicopters (ALHs), trawl tanks and Sarvatra bridge systems.
The CBRN vehicles will help detect and monitor areas contaminated by hazardous agents, while high-mobility vehicles will support troop movement and logistics in difficult terrain. The ALHs will be used by both the Army and Air Force for varied operations. Trawl tanks and Sarvatra bridge systems will support combat formations by enabling mobility and river crossings.
For the Navy, the DAC cleared the procurement of Arudhra radars and the design, development and subsequent procurement of Marine Gas Turbines, a key warship propulsion system aimed at reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. The Arudhra radars will replace existing air-route surveillance radars at naval air stations.
The Air Force received approval for projects to strengthen the capabilities of fighter aircraft, transport fleets and helicopters. These include Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers and installation of the Defence Forces Secure Access Card system. The jammer system is intended to provide electronic warfare capability against adversary radar networks.
The ministry said nearly 98 per cent of the approved procurements will be sourced from Indian industry, giving a boost to indigenous defence manufacturing.