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This is an archive article published on September 16, 2023
Centre clears proposal to buy 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets
DAC okays proposals for 9 platforms, weapon systems worth Rs 45,000 cr
The Su-30 MKI aircraft will be procured from HAL. File
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Centre clears proposal to buy 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets
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THE DEFENCE Acquisition Council (DAC) Friday cleared proposals worth Rs 45,000 crore to acquire 12 Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft and indigenous Dhruvastra short range air-to-surface missile for the Indian Air Force among nine platforms and weapon systems for the armed forces.
A statement released by the defence ministry said that the DAC has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft with associated equipment from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The DAC, which is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is among the top bodies for clearing major capital acquisitions for defence. AoN is the first step in the long defence procurement process. Grant of an AoN does not necessarily lead to a final order.
A Russian-origin fighter jet, the Su-30 MKI jets have had a good flight safety record. The IAF had inducted 272 of these jets since 1998. Around 10 Su-30s have crashed since 2010.
Officials told The Indian Express that once procured and inducted, the IAF’s Su-30 fleet will be back to the planned levels by replacing the aircraft lost over the years in training.
The DAC also accorded AoNs for the procurement of Dhruvastra short range air-to-surface missile, which is to be fired from the HAL-made Advanced Light Helicopters Mk-IV.
The precision guided missiles were designed by the Defence Research Development Organisation.
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The DAC also cleared proposals for avionics upgradation of the Dornier aircraft, which would improve the accuracy of operations for IAF.
The DAC accorded the AoN for procurement of Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicles (LAMV) and Integrated Surveillance and Targeting System (ISAT-S) aimed at enhancing protection, mobility, attack capability and increased survivability of the Army’s mechanised forces.
Proposals for procurement of High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) Gun Towing Vehicles for swift mobilisation and deployment of artillery guns and radars for the Army and Next Generation Survey Vessels to enhance the Navy’s capabilities in performing hydrographic operations were also cleared by the DAC.
According to the defence ministry, all these procurements will be made from Indian vendors under relevant categories of the Defence Acquisition Procedure, which governs all capital acquisitions of the ministry.
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During the meeting, the Defence Minister stated that it is time to upgrade the ambitions towards indigenisation.
Singh said instead of a threshold of 50% indigenous content for indigenously designed, developed and manufactured projects, the aim should be a minimum 60-65% indigenous content.
He asked 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.
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