Navy gets 111 choppers
This is the first project under the MoD's prestigious Strategic Partnership model that aims at providing significant fillip to the government's 'Make in India' programme.
In a major decision, the Defence Ministry on Saturday gave its nod to acquisition of 111 utility helicopters for the Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore besides approving separate procurement proposals worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore, according to officials.
A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement, cleared the proposals.
The procurement of the naval utility helicopters will be the first project under the ambitious strategic partnership (SP) model which provides for roping in private firm to build select military platforms in India in partnership with foreign defence manufacturers, reports PTI.
"The DAC, in a landmark decision today (Saturday), approved procurement of 111 Utility Helicopters for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore," the Defence Ministry said.
The utility helicopters will be used in attack missions as well as for search and rescue and surveillance operations.
The ministry said the DAC also granted approval to a few other procurement proposals amounting to Rs 24,879.16 crore, which included one on buying 150 indigenously designed and developed 155 mm advanced towed artillery gun systems for the Indian Army at an approximate cost of Rs 3,364.78 crore.
These guns have been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and will be manufactured by production agencies, as nominated by DRDO.
The DAC also accorded approval to procure 24 naval multi role helicopters (NMRH) which will have the capability to engage in antisubmarine warfare. The MRHs are an integral part of the frontline warships like the aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and corvettes.
In addition, the government also approved procurement of 14 vertically launched short range missile systems.