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India on a Defence Modernisation Spree

Our Bureau - : Mar 21, 2025 - : 7:51 pm

India’s Ministry of Defence has granted initial approval for military modernization projects worth over ₹54,000 crore (INR540 billion or $6.3 billion), covering a range of critical acquisitions, including BrahMos missiles, six ‘Netra’ airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, upgraded Russian engines for T-90 tanks, naval anti-aircraft missiles, and torpedoes.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved these proposals on Thursday.

One of the key approvals was for additional Army regiments and Indian Air Force (IAF) squadrons of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which now have an extended strike range of 450 km, up from the original 290 km. This acquisition, valued at approximately ₹20,000 crore, is expected to significantly enhance the strike capabilities of the armed forces.

The DAC also cleared fresh guidelines aimed at expediting procurement processes, making them “faster, more effective, and efficient.”

Among the major approvals, the DAC granted a fresh “Acceptance of Necessity” (AoN) for six Netra AEW&C Mark-1A aircraft, which will strengthen the IAF’s surveillance capabilities along India’s borders and enhance air combat coordination. These aircraft will be equipped with indigenous active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, along with electronic and signal intelligence systems, and will be mounted on Brazilian Embraer-145 jets. This project is estimated to cost over ₹9,000 crore. At present, the IAF operates only three Netra Mark-1 aircraft and three Israeli Phalcon AEW&C systems mounted on Russian IL-76 platforms.

For the Navy, AoNs were granted for additional ship-launched indigenous Varunastra torpedoes and Russian-origin Shtil anti-aircraft missiles, which will be installed on the four upgraded 3,900-tonne Krivak-III class frigates. The first of these, INS Tushil, has already departed from Russia for India, while the second is expected to arrive later this year. The remaining two frigates are being built at Goa Shipyard under a transfer-of-technology agreement at a cost of around ₹13,000 crore.

Additionally, approval was given for procuring 1,350-horsepower engines from Russia for the T-90S ‘Bhishma’ main battle tanks, which currently operate with 1,000-horsepower engines. The Indian Army has inducted approximately 1,300 T-90S tanks, out of the 1,657 being produced under license at the Heavy Vehicles Factory.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has also cleared the acquisition of 307 advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS) for the Indian Army. This marks a major step toward self-reliance in artillery manufacturing. The ATAGS, India’s first indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured 155mm artillery gun, is set to boost the Army’s firepower with advanced technology and superior operational capabilities.

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