Fighter jets, helicopters, missiles in latest ₹2.23L-cr defence push

In a significant boost to the country’s self-reliance drive and the military’s combat readiness, India on Thursday gave its go-ahead to major projects worth Rs.2.23 lakh crore, including the purchase of more light combat aircraft (LCA), light combat helicopters (LCH), artillery guns and anti-ship missiles, and the upgrade of Sukhoi-30 fighters.

- Rahul Singh

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded its acceptance of necessity (AoN) to the capital acquisition projects which are critical to enhance the capabilities of the three services, the defence ministry said in a statement. AoN by the council is the first step towards buying weapons and systems under India’s procurement rules. “Acquisition worth ₹2.20 lakh crore will be sourced from domestic industries. This will give a substantial boost to the Indian defence industry towards achieving the goal of ‘Aatmanirbharta,” it said.

The projects greenlit by the government include the purchase of 97 more LCA Mk-1As at an estimated cost of ₹67,000 crore and the modernisation of 84 Sukhoi-30s for ₹65,000 crore, officials aware of the military’s modernisation said. DAC also approved the procurement of 156 LCHs for the Air Force and Army, 400 towed gun systems and medium-range anti-ship missiles, the officials said.