The government has approved the purchase of defence equipment for Rs 70,500 crore.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) on Thursday for capital acquisitions totalling more than Rs 70,500 crore. More BrahMos missiles, utility helicopters, a Marine Diesel Engine for the Navy, and a Long-Range Stand-Off Weapon for IAF Su-30s are among the items on the list.
Purchase Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Made) procurements will be made. Acceptance of Need is the first step in the lengthy defence procurement process, which may or may not lead to a final order.
More than Rs 56,000 crore is allocated to Navy plans, which include indigenous BrahMos missiles, Shakti Electronic Warfare systems, and Utility Helicopters-Maritime.
A meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by RM Shri @rajnathsingh was held today. The DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition amounting to Rs.70,584 Crores and all the procurement are under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) March 16, 2023
The Defence Ministry stated in a statement that the additional procurement of the BrahMos missile system will improve maritime strike capabilities and anti-surface warfare operations, while the addition of utility helicopters will increase the Navy’s operational readiness in the domains of Search & Rescue operations, Casualty Evacuation, Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief.
“Similarly, Shakti EW systems will equip and modernise frontline Naval ships to counter any Naval Operations conducted by adversaries,” the ministry claimed.
According to the government, the AoN for Medium Speed Marine Diesel Engines under Make-I category is significant because it marks India’s first foray into developing and manufacturing such engines. “To keep pace with changing technology and fight adversaries on the western and northern fronts, the Government felt the need for new weapons and their integration with delivery systems,” it stated.
To attain the same goals, the DAC approved the IAF’s proposal for a Long Range Stand-Off Weapon, which will be indigenously designed, developed, and integrated into SU-30 MKI aircraft, according to the ministry.
“In addition to the continuing Dhanush Gun System and K-9 Vajra-T Gun System, the DAC granted the AoN for acquisition of 155mm/52 Caliber Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, High Mobility Vehicles, and Gun Towing Vehicles for artillery modernisation,” the ministry added.
