India's defence ministry has approved acquisitions worth seventy-nine thousand crore rupees. The focus is on indigenous long-range weapons and counter-drone systems. This move is informed by lessons from past operations. The navy will also lease t...
New Delhi: The defence ministry has cleared acquisition proposals worth Rs 79,000 crore, with a focus on indigenous long-range weapons and counter-drone systems, keeping in mind lessons from Operation Sindoor, which involved cross-border strikes. A deal to lease two additional MQ9B ‘Sea Guardian’ drones from the US for the navy has also been approved.
Among the acquisition proposals granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council are long-range Guided Pinaka Rocket systems and an extended version of the indigenous Astra air-to-air missile. Officials said that the missiles will come with enhanced range, enabling fighter aircraft to neutralise adversary aircraft from large standoff ranges.
Striking high-value targets
The rockets will enable effective engagement of high-value targets, deep across the border, officials said. Singh is defence minister. There was a key lesson from Operation Sindoor, where a need was felt for longer range air-to-air missiles to counter Pakistan's Chinese-origin weapon systems.
Another indigenous system cleared for acquisition by the army is the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mk-II. With enhanced range and capacity to target drones, it will be used to protect vital assets in both the Tactical Battle Area and the hinterland, officials added.
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The army will also get indigenous loitering munitions for precision strikes of tactical targets, as well as low-level lightweight radars to detect and track small, low-flying drones.
For the navy, the ministry has cleared several proposals, including high-frequency software defined radios (HF SDRs). Leasing of high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) drones has been given the go-ahead. “The drones will ensure continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and credible maritime domain awareness over the Indian Ocean Region,” said one of the officials cited.
Besides the Astra missiles, the air force will get automatic takeoff landing recording systems and the SPICE-1000 Long-range Guidance systems that will enable precise air-to-ground strikes at long distances across the border.
