Indian armed forces to get meaner with nod to military modernisation projects worth Rs 70,584 crore

Soon there would be a signing of a contract for the next-generation BrahMos missiles. These developments are aimed at modernising the Indian Army.

In a major boost to military modernisation in India, projects to the tune of Rs 70,584 crore have received preliminary approval from the Defence Ministry.

These include 69 maritime helicopters, 225 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and 307 heavy-duty artillery guns.

All projects under the Buy IDDM (indigenously designed, developed and manufactured) category have received the acceptance of need (AoN). This is the first step in the protracted procurement process by defence acquisitions council led by Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh.

Some of these projects are still ink the design and development phase. The other will eventually need to be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is overseen by the Prime Minister.

The largest proposal that was approved was for 60 utility helicopters-marine which are being built by Hindustan Aeronautics at a cost of RS 32,000 crore. These choppers will feature foldable rotors and be in the 5.5 tonne class like operating advanced light helicopters.

The DAC also approved the Coast Guard's purchase of nine ALH Mark-III choppers of RS 3,800 crore. Another major purchase was the 225 BrahMos long range missiles for frontline destroyers and frigates for Rs 20,000 crore.

At a speed of Mach 2.8, these missiles travel at a speed almost three times of sound. There would also be the signing of a much smaller contract this month for the next-generation BrahMos maritime mobile coastal batteries.

With contracts worth over Rs 3,800 crore already signed over the past couple of years, the Brahmos has evolved into the primary conventional non-nuclear strike weapons for the Indian armed forces. The striking range has now been increased to 450 km from the original 290 km.

Another important development was the DAC's approval of the Rs 8,526 crore purchase of 307 ATAGS. The DRDO says that this is the best in their class with a maximum strike range of 48 km.

This would be the first order for the domestic 155mm/52 calibre ATAGS whose production partners are Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems. New orders will be placed as the Army need 1,580 of these weapons on a long-term basis.

Of all the overall proposals approved, the Navy was responsible for more than Rs 56,000 crore. This amount includes the Shakti electronic warfare equipment for warships which would help the Navy counter enemy operations.

The Indian Air Force would receive long-range stand-off weapons that were prepared and integrated aboard Sukhoi-30 MKI jets domestically.