Centre approves $8.5 billion purchase of howitzers, BrahMos missiles, UH Maritime helicopters
New Delhi, March 16: India approved $8.5 billion in purchases of missiles, helicopters, artillery guns, and electronic warfare systems on Thursday as it sought to beef up its military.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the top government body for capital acquisition approvals for the Indian military, approved orders totalling 705 billion rupees ($8.52 billion) for all services, according to a statement from the Defence Ministry.
It stated that all orders would be placed with Indian companies, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government's push to boost domestic defence manufacturing.
According to officials, the DAC has approved proposals to purchase 60 Made-in-India Utility Helicopters (Maritime) and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for the Indian Navy, 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) howitzers for the Indian Army, and 9 ALH Dhruv choppers for the Indian Coast Guard.
According to a Defence Ministry release, the government saw the need for new weapons and their integration with delivery platforms in order to keep up with emerging technologies and counter adversaries on the Western and Northern fronts.
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To achieve the same goals, the DAC approved the Indian Air Force's proposal for a Long Range Stand-Off Weapon (LRSOW) that will be designed, developed, and integrated into SU-30 MKI aircraft.
The purchase of 60 Utility Helicopter (Maritime) choppers costs Rs 32,000 crore. The helicopters are intended to meet the force's warship requirements.
Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was granted by DAC for capital acquisition totalling more than Rs 70,500 crore under Buy Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured).
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Navy proposals account for more than Rs 56,000 crore of the total proposals, which primarily include indigenous BrahMos missiles, Shakti Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, and Utility Helicopters (Maritime).
- ANI
