In a move aimed at lifting the domestic industry, the Ministry of Defence has approved the procurement of military hardware worth Rs 76,390 crore. The Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which approved the proposals, also pushed for indigenisation of the aero engines. The Army, Navy and Coast Guard will benefit from these approvals.This will provide substantial boost to the Indian defence industry and reduce foreign spending significantly.
Next-generation corvettes for the navy will cost around ₹36,000 crore and will be used for surveillance missions, escort operations, search and attack, deterrence, and coastal defence, officials said.The tasks might be executed underneath ‘Buy (Indian)’, ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ and ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ classes. This will present a considerable increase to the Indian defence trade and minimize overseas spending. Engines for plane have gotten the main target space for the federal government.
Military affairs expert Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd) said: “The government has cleared some key military purchases. This is an indication to the world that India is taking quick strides towards self-reliance in defence, and the domestic industry can meet the needs of the armed forces.”
