New Delhi: The defence ministry has approved several major procurement deals for unmanned strike aircraft, S-400 air defence systems, transport aircraft and artillery guns that are valued at over ₹2.38 lakh crore.
Among the procurements cleared by the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday was the acquisition of new military transport aircraft (MTAs) that will be made in India with the assistance of a foreign technology partner. Singh is India’s defence minister. Valued at around ₹1 lakh crore, the procurement will see keen competition among Indian private sector firms that will be required to supply 60 transport aircraft with a high level of indigenisation.
As of now, the main competitors for the deal are Tata Advanced Systems, which has tied up with Lockheed Martin to offer the C-130J, and Mahindra Aerospace, which has an agreement with Embraer to offer C-390 transporters. Brazilian firm Embraer also has an agreement with Adani Aerospace and Defence to enter the civilian aircraft market.
Military transport aircraft will replace the AN32 and IL76 transport fleet to meet the strategic, tactical and operational airlift requirements of the armed forces.
After the Airbus-Tata C295, which is currently being produced at Vadodara, this will be the second large military aircraft line to be set up in India.
The DAC also gave approval for contracting an additional five units of the Russian-origin S-400 system, adding to the five already on order. The deal is valued at over Rs 60,000 crore and the additional units will be able to give air protection to all parts of the country, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Deliveries of the already ordered S-400 units are running behind schedule but people in the know said the fourth one is expected to be delivered in April, followed by the fifth by October. Three units of the air defence system have been deployed.
Another major opportunity for the defence industry will arise with the clearance to procure four squadrons of indigenously developed remotely piloted strike aircraft (RPSA), valued at close to ₹40,000 crore. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ghatak programme, the RPSA will be a large unmanned combat aerial vehicle, capable of undertaking offensive air operations. The stealth aircraft will be jet powered and will also be equipped for surveillance missions and manned-unmanned teaming. DRDO will work with industry to manufacture the jets for the armed forces, similar to the ongoing advanced medium fighter aircraft model.
Other contracts that have been given the go ahead include tracked air defence systems, armoured piercing tank ammunition, Dhanush gun systems and runway independent aerial surveillance systems.
Among the procurements cleared by the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday was the acquisition of new military transport aircraft (MTAs) that will be made in India with the assistance of a foreign technology partner. Singh is India’s defence minister. Valued at around ₹1 lakh crore, the procurement will see keen competition among Indian private sector firms that will be required to supply 60 transport aircraft with a high level of indigenisation.
As of now, the main competitors for the deal are Tata Advanced Systems, which has tied up with Lockheed Martin to offer the C-130J, and Mahindra Aerospace, which has an agreement with Embraer to offer C-390 transporters. Brazilian firm Embraer also has an agreement with Adani Aerospace and Defence to enter the civilian aircraft market.
Military transport aircraft will replace the AN32 and IL76 transport fleet to meet the strategic, tactical and operational airlift requirements of the armed forces.
After the Airbus-Tata C295, which is currently being produced at Vadodara, this will be the second large military aircraft line to be set up in India.
The DAC also gave approval for contracting an additional five units of the Russian-origin S-400 system, adding to the five already on order. The deal is valued at over Rs 60,000 crore and the additional units will be able to give air protection to all parts of the country, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Deliveries of the already ordered S-400 units are running behind schedule but people in the know said the fourth one is expected to be delivered in April, followed by the fifth by October. Three units of the air defence system have been deployed.
Another major opportunity for the defence industry will arise with the clearance to procure four squadrons of indigenously developed remotely piloted strike aircraft (RPSA), valued at close to ₹40,000 crore. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ghatak programme, the RPSA will be a large unmanned combat aerial vehicle, capable of undertaking offensive air operations. The stealth aircraft will be jet powered and will also be equipped for surveillance missions and manned-unmanned teaming. DRDO will work with industry to manufacture the jets for the armed forces, similar to the ongoing advanced medium fighter aircraft model.
Other contracts that have been given the go ahead include tracked air defence systems, armoured piercing tank ammunition, Dhanush gun systems and runway independent aerial surveillance systems.
