New Delhi: Underscoring the importance of sourcing equipment from Indian vendors to promote self-reliance, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved various capital acquisition proposals totalling Rs 84,560 crore. These include the construction of 15 maritime patrol planes (nine maritime surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy and six maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard) which will be based on C-295 transport aircraft that are being manufactured in India in a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus.
According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on February 16, approval was granted for the procurement of Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft through the Buy and Make category. This move aligns with the government’s “Make in India” initiative, aiming to enhance indigenous defence production capabilities while meeting the country’s security needs and bolstering surveillance and interdiction capabilities of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) over the vast maritime area. The transport aircraft would be equipped with the required radars and sensors and turned into a maritime patrol plane by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS). The estimated value of these projects stands at Rs 29,000 crore.
The DAC also sanctioned the procurement of a new generation of Anti-tank mines equipped with seismic sensors and remote deactivation features for added safety under the Buy {Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)} category, In addition, approval was granted for the procurement of the Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munition System to enhance operational efficiency and dominance in the Tactical Battle Area, particularly for engaging targets Beyond Visual Line of Sight by the Mechanised Forces.
The procurement of Air Defence Tactical Control Radar under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category was approved by the DAC, recognising the need to strengthen Air Defence Systems. This decision emphasises the importance of detecting slow, small, and low-flying targets, as well as improving surveillance, detection, and tracking capabilities.
Under the Buy (Indian) category, the Indian Navy will get Active Towed Array Sonar and Heavyweight Torpedoes to stay ahead of potential threats. This includes sustainment support for 24 MH60R aircraft under the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route with the US Government. Furthermore, procurement of Software Defined Radios for the ICG under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category was granted to fulfil the requirement of high-speed communication with secure networking capability for seamless information exchange between the ICG and Indian Navy units.
In addition to equipment procurement, approval has been given for the procurement of Flight Refueller Aircraft to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is seeking quotes for mid-air refuellers has received offers from US aerospace Boeing Company (KC-46 tanker) and Brazilian Aerospace major Embraer (C390 Millennium Military Transport Aircraft which also has the capability to be used as a mid-air refueller). The Ministry of Defence is also looking at European aerospace major Airbus’ A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. Meanwhile, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries have inked a MoU to work under Make in India initiative to convert a civil aircraft to a Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) aircraft.
Currently, India has six Russian IIyushin-78 tankers (first inducted in service in 2003) and these have now aged and need a lot of maintenance and servicing. The need for tankers is also felt as these add range-enhancing capability to fighters, which helps the pilots carry out strikes at longer ranges and also stay in-flight without requiring landing and refuelling.
The DAC approved amendments to the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 in a bid to foster a friendly defence start-up ecosystem and promote procurement of advanced technologies from start-ups and MSMEs. These amendments include adjustments in benchmarking, cost computation, payment schedule, and procurement quantity to provide incentives and a supportive business environment for start-ups and MSMEs under iDEX and TDF schemes, aligning with the government’s initiative of ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
Thus, the recent approvals by the Defence Acquisition Council mark a significant step towards enhancing India’s defence capabilities and promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing to meet the challenges of the future and emerge as a global leader in defence innovation. These decisions underscore the government’s commitment to modernizing the armed forces and fostering innovation in the defence sector.
