Breaking news
India clears deals worth $4.7 bn and approves purchase of 428 new air defence guns 21507152.
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Defence & Security News - India
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| India clears deals worth $4.7 bn and approves purchase of 428 new air defence guns | |||
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The Indian Defence Ministry on Tuesday cleared proposals worth over Rs 30,000 crore (US $4.7bn), including that to replace army's air defence guns and for buying four more P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft for the navy. The biggest takeaway from the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, was the acceptance of necessity (AON) for replacing L70 and ZU-23 guns for army's air defence under Buy-and-Make category.
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 India's Defense Acquisition Council approved purchase of new guns to replace aging L-70 and ZU-23 air defence weapons |
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Replacing of these vintage air defence guns was a major priority for the Indian army. The DAC approval for 428 new air defence guns worth US $2.6 bn will now pave the way for issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP).
Only two Indian companies -- Punj Llyod and Bharat Forge -- had responded to an army request for information on the procurement plan. The other major deal cleared, for the acquisition of four more P-8I aircraft, involves a cost of Rs 4,380 crore US $690 mn). The original eight-aircraft deal was signed in 2009 and, as per the agreement, three each were to be delivered in 2013 and 2014 and two in 2015. As for the Indian army, one of its corps will see a replacement of the electronic warfare system, built by BEL, at a cost of Rs 265 crore (US $41 mn). Among other proposals cleared for the army was the acquisition of 14,000 units of multi-spectrum camouflage net, which block visual, thermal and radar signatures from enemy eyes. A Rs 580 crore (US $91 mn) proposal for 350,000 modules of B1 modular charger system for 155mm artillery guns was also approved by DAC. The contract is likely to go to a French firm. The Indian National Cadet Corps got a shot in the arm as DAC approved 110 micro-light aircraft for it with the contract set to go to a Slovenian firm. A proposal to acquire a simulator for the upgraded Mirage fighter aircraft, too, was okayed. |
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