Indian MoD approves procurement proposals worth USD2.38 billion

24 February 2021

by Rahul Bedi

India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved new and lapsed procurement proposals for “indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured (IDDM)” military equipment worth INR172.5 billion (USD2.38 billion) for the country’s three military services.

Official sources told Janes on 23 February that the MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the INR83.8 billion purchase of 118 Arjun Mk 1A main battle tanks (MBTs) for the Indian Army (IA), as well as the acquisition of protection and counter-measures equipment worth INR53 billion for 820 of its armoured fighting vehicles, including infantry combat vehicles.

This image shows the Arjun Mk 2 MBT, which is currently under development. India’s MoD approved on 23 February the procurement of 118 units of the Mk 1A variant, which is an interim step between this and the original Mk 1. It is understood that the Mk 1A incorporates some of the Mk 2 improvements, including mine ploughs and additional explosive reactive armour. (DRDO)

The DAC also revalidated the lapsed but mandatory acceptance of necessity (AoN) requirements for 13 tracked Nag Missile Carriers (NAMICAs) and Nag anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) for INR5 billion, as well as for an undisclosed number of 125 mm armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) practice rounds, worth INR2.7 billion, for the IA’s T-72M1 and T-90S MBTs.

The INR28 billion procurement of eight ‘Arudhra’ active phased-array radars for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy (IN) was also cleared. This procurement proposal had also lapsed.

India’s Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 mandates an AoN for all major equipment procurements. The AoNs are valid for 6–12 months, with the MoD required to revalidate them if they lapse.