New Delhi: The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Thursday gave preliminary approval to major acquisition projects worth Rs 70,500 crore, which include the much-awaited purchase of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and 60 indigenous maritime utility helicopters.
The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has given the Approval of Requirement (AoN) for capital acquisitions worth over Rs 70,500 crore under Buy Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured). ) gave. New Purchase Category.
A defense ministry statement said that out of the total proposals, the Indian Navy’s proposals amount to over Rs 56,000 crore, which include largely indigenous BrahMos missiles, Shakti electronic warfare systems, utility helicopters for maritime operations .
Sources in the defense establishment said that the BrahMos missiles being acquired are of extended range. However, the most significant approval is that of utility helicopters, which the Defense Ministry said will enhance the Navy’s operational readiness manifold in the field of search and rescue operations, casualty evacuation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
This effectively means that the Navy plans to acquire 111 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUHs) under the strategic partnership route, which will see a selected foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partner with a designated Indian company to indigenously manufacture the helicopters. will allow. Toss.
Defense sources pointed out that the parameters of the helicopters supplied by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) do not fully meet the norms of the NUH program and only half of the required power is being procured.
“It is expected that HAL helicopters will meet the NUH norms in future. If not, the Navy will go ahead with the original schedule,” said a source.
ThePrint was first to report Very early in 2019 the NUH program ran into bad weather with HAL offering an indigenous helicopter that did not meet the basic criteria of folding blades. The Navy and private industry objected to HAL’s bid.
At the forefront of the NUH program was Airbus, which at the time was offering the AS565 helicopter.
impression reported last year that the government would allow the HAL bid and the state-run entity was likely to get the order.
Read also: Finally, Modi govt begins process to acquire 111 choppers for desperate Navy
’99 percent procurement from Indian industries’
The Defense Ministry also provided AoN for medium speed marine diesel engine under Make-I category, under which 90 per cent funding will be done by the Centre.
This is the first time India is venturing indigenously in developing and manufacturing such engines.
The AoN was also approved for the Indian Air Force’s proposal for the Long Range Stand-Off Weapon (LRSOW), which will be indigenously designed, developed and integrated on the Su-30 MKI aircraft.
Approval was also given for the procurement of 155 mm/52 caliber ATAGS along with high-speed vehicles and gun-towing vehicles for the Indian Army.
ATAGS has been developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in association with Kalyani Group and TATA Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd.
The Ministry also granted AON for procurement of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III from HAL for the Indian Coast Guard.
The ministry said that, including Thursday’s proposals, the total AoN given for capital acquisitions in FY 2022-23 is over Rs 2.71 lakh crore, of which 99 per cent purchases will be made from Indian industries.
(Editing by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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