Indian Defence minister cleared proposals for military equipment worth $700 mn.

The army is on course to get its indigenous Samyukta electronic warfare systems modernised along with a maintenance contract for the next 10 years for $266 mn. The EW system consists of vehicles with equipment for surveillance, interception, monitoring and jamming of all communication and radar signals.

The DAC cleared ‘deviations’ relating to the P-7 heavy drop platform and the naval survey vessels. The approval concerns extending the life of airbags fitted under the platform for damage free touchdown of payload weighing less than 7 tonnes from eight to 15 years. It will cost $63 mn.

The naval survey vessels were approved two years back but a deviation in the project due to the naval utility helicopter being dropped required fresh clearance from the DAC. The navy now requires longer and heavier vessels for the substitute - advanced light helicopters.

The DAC, however, deferred decision on the joint bid by Tata Sons and Airbus to replace the air force’s Avro transport fleet, a project worth $1.9 bn. It has sought more details from the IAF.

On November 22, Parrikar had cleared a proposal to buy 814 artillery guns for the army at a cost of $2.49 bn to fill gaps in India’s defence capabilities. The army has not bought a single artillery gun since the Bofors scandal exploded in the late 1980s.

The artillery guns would be bought under the government’s “Buy and Make” procedure introduced last year to strengthen the indigenous defence sector. The plan is to go in for off-the-shelf purchase of 100 guns and manufacture the remaining in the country.