From Su-30 MKI jets to Astra missiles: Defence acquisition of Rs 38,900 crore approved, focus on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat'

The Defence Ministry on Thursday approved procurement of defence equipment, including two dozen fighter jets, worth Rs 38,900 crore to strengthen the Indian Armed Forces. 

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) which met under the Chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday.  and accorded approval for capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipment required by the Indian Armed Forces. 

Proposals to procure various platforms and equipment required by the armed forces were approved for an approximate cost of Rs 38,900 crore, the ministry said. 

Here is the list of all the equipment approved for procurement by the DAC. The cost of these Design and Development proposals is in the range of Rs 20,400 crore.

Pinaka ammunitions: The acquisition of Pinaka missile systems will enable raising additional regiments over and above the ones already inducted.

Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile Systems: The addition of Long-Range Land Attack Missile Systems having a firing range of 1,000 Km to the existing arsenal will bolster the attack capabilities of the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. 

Astra Missiles: Induction of Astra Missiles having Beyond Visual Range capability will serve as a force multiplier and immensely add to the strike capability of Navy and Air Force. 

BMP armament upgrades and Software Defined Radios: The Army is likely to get these equipment soon after the approval was accorded on Thursday. This will raise the operational capabilities of the Indian Army. 

Fighter jets: The cost of MIG-29 and Su-30 MKI will be Rs 18,148 crore

Addressing the long-felt need of the Indian Air Force to increase its fighter squadrons, the DAC also approved the proposal for procurement of 23 fighter jets and upgradation of a fleet of 59 existing  MIG-29 jets. 

MIG-29 fighter jets: The cost of 21 fighter jets and upgradation of 59 Mig-29 aircraft from Russia is estimated to cost Rs 7,418 crore. 

Su-30 MKI aircraft: The Indian Airforce will also get 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft. They will be procured from HAL at an estimated cost of Rs 10,730 crore. 

‘Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence’ 

Given Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the focus has been on indigenous design and development.  

Out of total approval of 38,900 crore, acquisitions from Indian Industry will be worth Rs 31,130 crore. 

The equipment are to be manufactured in India involving the Indian Defence Industry with the participation of several MSMEs as prime tier vendors. The indigenous content in some of these projects is up to 80% of the project cost, the Defence Ministry said in a press release. 

A large number of these projects have been made possible due to Transfer of Technology by DRDO to the indigenous industry, it said.