DAC clears Rs 45,000-crore worth purchases including 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets for IAF

New Delhi: The Defence Ministry on Friday approved nine capital acquisition proposals, worth Rs 45,000 crore, including the procurement of 12 Su-30MKIs for the Indian Air Force (IAF) which would be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). 

The decision was taken during the meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday. 

According to the Defence Ministry, the DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for nine capital acquisition proposals of around Rs 45,000 crore. 

The AoN for the procurement of 12 Su-30 MKI Aircraft with associated equipment from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was also accorded.

All these procurements will be made from Indian vendors under Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDMM)/Buy (Indian) category which will give substantial boost to the Indian defence Industry towards achieving the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

To enhance protection, mobility, attack capability and increased survivability of Mechanised Forces, the DAC accorded the AoN for procurement of Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicles (LAMV) and Integrated Surveillance and Targeting System (ISAT-S).

The DAC cleared AoN for procurement of High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) Gun Towing Vehicles for swift mobilisation and deployment of Artillery Guns and Radars.

The DAC also approved procurement of Next Generation Survey Vessels for the Indian Navy which will greatly enhance its capabilities in performing Hydrographic Operations.

The DAC also accorded AoN for proposals of the Indian Air Force which included Avionic upgradation of Dornier Aircraft to improve the accuracy and reliability for operations. The procurement of Dhruvastra Short Range Air-to-Surface Missile as a potent Indigenous Precision Guided Weapon for indigenously built ALH Mk-IV Helicopters has been cleared by the DAC.

During the meeting, the Defence Minister stated that it is time to upgrade the ambitions towards indigenisation.

“Rather than a threshold of 50 per cent indigenous content for IDDM projects, we should aim for a minimum 60-65 per cent indigenous content,” he said.

Singh directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Defence Secretary and DG (Acquisition) to work towards increasing the minimum indigenous content threshold in consultation with the Indian Industry. (ANI)