India’s Ministry of Defence has granted clearance to nine procurement proposals valued at approximately ₹45,000 crore, demonstrating a commitment to strengthening the nation’s defence capabilities. Among the approved projects is the acquisition of 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), at a cost of ₹11,000 crore. This project encompasses not only the aircraft but also related ground systems, according to defence officials.
Su-30 MKI aircraft are slated to have a substantial domestic content
Significantly, these Su-30 MKI aircraft are slated to have a substantial domestic content, exceeding 60% in accordance with requirements. They are expected to be equipped with cutting-edge Indian weapons and sensor systems, enhancing the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) capabilities.
The procurement proposals further encompass the acquisition of Dhruvastra air-to-surface missiles and an upgrade for the Dornier aircraft. The approval for the Dornier fleet’s avionics upgrade is particularly noteworthy, given earlier reports of technical issues with the aircraft earlier this year. This move underscores India’s commitment to improving the accuracy and reliability of its defence assets.
These approvals align with the ‘Make in India’ initiative and come amid ongoing tensions and border disputes with China in eastern Ladakh. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted its Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for these projects, marking the initial clearance stage for defence acquisition endeavors. The DAC meeting, where these proposals received the green light, was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
All these procurements are set to be sourced from Indian vendors, emphasizing the ‘Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)/Buy (Indian)’ category. This approach aims to boost India’s domestic defence industry significantly, aligning with the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
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