Defence Ministry gives nod to 7 stealth frigates worth Rs 13,000 crore

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Friday approved a Rs 13,000 crore weapons and sensors package for the seven new stealth frigates being constructed by defence shipyards for the Navy as well as accorded the initial approval for the Rs 7,200 crore project to indigenously manufacture 244 air defence guns for the IAF.

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The defence acquisitions council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, also discussed the new defence procurement procedure ( DPP), which will have a pronounced thrust on the 'Make in India' endeavour as well as the "strategic partnerships" provision for private sector companies. "Another DAC meeting is likely to be held this month to clear the final policy," said a source.

The Rs 13,000 crore package for stealth frigates will be undertaken on a "single vendor and repeat order basis". Basically, this means the frigates will be equipped with long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) systems, jointly developed by DRDO and Israeli Aerospace Industries, which are already fitted on the three Kolkata-class destroyers. The package will also include BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Ajanta electronic warfare systems and Humsa-NG radars.

The over Rs 50,000 crore contract for construction of seven 'Project-17A' stealth frigates - four at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai and three in Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata - was inked in February 2015 after clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security, as first reported by TOI.