Amid LAC standoff, Centre approves Rs 38,900 crore for purchasing fighter jets, missile systems, weapons

NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry on Thursday approved the procurement of 33 frontline fighter jets, several missile systems and other military hardware for Rs 38,900 crore to bolster the combat capability of the armed forces.

Amid India’s tense border standoff with China, officials said 21 MIG29 fighter jets will be procured from Russia while 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft will be bought from State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). A separate proposal to upgrade the existing 59 MIG-29 aircraft has also been approved.

The ministry has also approved the procurement of 248 ASTRA beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile systems. The missile is designed to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aircraft and has allweather day and night capability, the officials said.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The DAC is the highest decision-making body of the Defence Ministry on procurement.

The DAC also approved the acquisition of Pinaka missile systems as well as procurement of long-range land attack missile systems having a firing range of 1000 KM.

In a press release, the ministry referred to the “current situation and the need to strengthen the armed forces for the defence of our borders” while talking about the decisions of the DAC. The proposals approved by the DAC also included procurement of Pinaka ammunition, software defined radios for the Army and BMP armament upgrades. The procurement of 21 MIG-29 and upgrade of the existing fleet of MIG-29 is estimated to cost the government Rs 7,418 crore while purchase of 12 new Su-30 MKI from HAL will be made at a cost of Rs 10,730 crore, the officials said. In the statement, the ministry said capital procurement worth around Rs 38,900 crore was approved by the DAC.