India plans to acquire advanced defence platforms and equipment across various branches of the military as part of its efforts to strengthen overall combat capabilities.
The capital acquisition proposal worth INR846 billion (US$10 billion), approved by the country’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, includes purchase of about 15 maritime surveillance aircraft, six mid-air refuelers, new generation anti-tank mines, air defence tactical control radar, heavyweight torpedoes and futuristic infantry combat vehicles.
According to defence ministry sources, of the 15 maritime patrol aircraft, nine will be for the Navy and five for the Coast Guard. The aircraft could be based on the C-295 transport aircraft that are being manufactured in India in a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus. Recently, Airbus Defence and Space had officially handed over in fly-away condition the first of 56 C295 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) to begin replacing its ageing Avros-748 fleet.
If this materialises, the Tata Airbus order book will become 71 from the existing 56.
MID-AIR REFUELLERS
It is interesting to note that India has revived the process of procuring the mid-air refuellers after failing to make any headway in the earlier attempts in the last few years.
Earlier IAF had said that they were even considering the purchase of pre-owned aircraft, which can be modified into tankers to meet its requirement of refuellers.
Currently, the IAF operates a fleet of six Russian IIyushin-78 tankers procured in 2003-04.
“The decision to buy six additional tankers has come at the right time as the demand for these platforms has gone up in the last few years with the induction of a range of fighter aircraft with the capability of receiving fuel on air,” a senior IAF official said.
The Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport and the Ilyushin Il-78 have been vying to secure a contract for these tankers.
In 2022, India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert the Boeing-767 passenger aircraft into Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) in India. The local MMTT conversions will utilize India’s local defence ecosystem and support India’s ‘Make in India’ campaign.
OTHER PURCHASE PLANS
The proposals, cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), also include new generation anti-tank mines, air defence tactical control radar, and heavyweight torpedoes
Additionally, the government plans to buy advanced sonar for naval ships to detect submarines from a long distance.
“In order to enhance the operational efficiency and domination in the tactical battle area for engaging targets that are beyond visual line of sight by the mechanised forces, the AoN (Acceptance of Necessity) under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category has been accorded for procurement of canister launched anti-armour loiter munition system,” the ministry official informed..
“Further, to strengthen the air defence systems, especially the capabilities to detect slow, small and low-flying targets as well as surveillance, detection and tracking of different targets, the AoN has been accorded for procurement of Air Defence Tactical Control Radar under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category,” he said.
Also “to keep the Indian naval ships one step ahead of the threats posed by the adversaries”, active towed array sonar, which are capable of operating at low frequencies and various depths for long range detection of submarines are also being procured.
This acquisition will provide further boost to the vision of self reliance in Defence, the MoD official said.
“The proposed contracts will also open up a large avenue in defence manufacturing for over 125 Indian vendors and Defence PSUs for over a period of five years,” he added.
The ministry had recently signed the contract with Advanced Weapon Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), Kanpur for manufacturing and supply of a total of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm stabilised remote control guns (SRCG) for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard at a total cost of INR1,752.13 crore, with indigenous content (IC) of more than 85%.
These guns will help enhance the capability of the Navy and the Coast Guard to accurately engage small targets that pose a threat to ships in an asymmetric environment, both by day and night, the defence ministry official said.
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.