Govt clears defence purchases worth crores; major thrust for Make in India

The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has given approval to a proposal concerning the acquisition of various equipment for modernisation and operational needs of the armed forces, worth around thousands of crores.

Project P 75 (I) Submarines 

In its meeting, the DAC approved the issue of Request For Proposal for constructing six conventional submarines under Project P 75 (I). These submarines will be constructed under the strategic partnership model.

This project involves the indigenous construction of six conventional submarines equipped with an air-independent propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs 43000 crore.

This would be one of the largest 'Make in India' projects and would facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology. It will also create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India, the spokesperson added. 

From a strategic perspective, the move would help in reducing import dependence. It would ensure greater self-reliance and dependability of supplies from indigenous sources.
 
With this approval, the country will be able to achieve its 30-year submarine construction programme as devised by the government to acquire national competence in submarine construction.
 
This project under SP Model provides a unique long-term opportunity and planning certainty for the industry to invest and support submarine construction. 

It will also infuse the latest technology and weaponry for submarines in India through a strategic tie-up between Indian industry and leading foreign OEMs.

On January 21 last year, the DAC selected two domestic shipyard companies, including Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd and private sector firm Larsen & Toubro, as strategic partners for the Project 75-I programme.

The Indian Navy will get the first submarine in the next ten years. As per the sources, the RFP will now be sent to the companies selected under the Strategic Partnership model in about a month. The companies will have three months time to reply, in which technical evaluation will also be done. 

As per them, the contract signing would take place by the end of next year.

Six Scorpene-class submarines are already being built in India by the MDL, in collaboration with France-based Naval Group, under Project 75. So far, three of them have been commissioned into the Indian Navy. 

Air Defence Guns

There was a long-pending need of the Indian Army for modernisation of its Air Defence guns. Earlier, these guns were being procured only from foreign sources. 

As part of the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign and the Make in India initiative, the ministry received positive feedback from the domestic manufacturers to make this complex gun system and associated equipment by ensuring technology assimilation in India. 

"Accordingly, the DAC accorded approval of procurement of Air Defence Guns and Ammunition at an approximate cost of Rs 6,000 crore under the Buy & Make (Indian) category," he said.
 
Further to better equip the Armed Forces to meet the operational challenges and facilitate faster induction of required arms and ammunitions, the DAC also extended the timelines for progressing urgent Capital Acquisitions under the delegated powers to the Armed Forces up to August 31, 2021.  

This will enable the Armed Forces to complete their emergent and critical acquisitions, he added.

• Air Defence guns
• Defence Acquisition Committee
• Larsen & Toubro
• Make in India
• Rajnath Singh
• submarines
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
• defence