India has greenlit significant defense procurement projects totaling Rs 84,560 crore, aimed at enhancing the country's military capabilities. These projects encompass the acquisition of mid-air refuelers, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, heavy weight torpedoes, air defense radars, and new generation anti-tank mines, among other equipment crucial for bolstering the combat readiness of the armed forces.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, gave the go-ahead for these projects, emphasizing the government's broader agenda of promoting self-reliance in defense manufacturing. According to officials, the approvals align with the ethos of 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance), with a focus on sourcing various equipment from Indian vendors.
The Ministry of Defence highlighted that these acquisitions will significantly enhance the capabilities of the armed forces and the Indian Coast Guard. While specific details regarding the procurement of mid-air refuelers were not disclosed, it is understood that six tanker aircraft are to be acquired for the Indian Air Force.
Furthermore, the DAC granted initial approval for the procurement of medium-range maritime reconnaissance and multi-mission maritime aircraft to strengthen surveillance and interdiction capabilities, with 15 C-295 aircraft slated for procurement by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
In addition to ongoing procurement projects, the DAC approved the acquisition of active towed array Sonar for Indian Naval ships, heavy weight torpedoes for Kalvari class submarines, sustainment support for MH60R aircraft, and a new generation of anti-tank mines with advanced features such as seismic sensors and remote deactivation.
To enhance operational efficiency, the DAC also greenlit the procurement of canister-launched anti-armour loiter munition systems and air defense tactical control radar, catering to the evolving defense needs, especially in detecting low-flying targets.
Moreover, the DAC's approval extends to the procurement of software-defined radios for the Coast Guard to facilitate high-speed communication with secure networking capabilities, ensuring seamless information exchange between Coast Guard and Navy units.
Recognizing the importance of innovation and technology, amendments to the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 were approved to promote procurement from start-ups and MSMEs developed under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Technology Development Fund (TDF) schemes. These amendments aim to create a supportive environment for start-ups and MSMEs, fostering an ecosystem conducive to technological advancement and self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
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