New Delhi: The Defense Acquisition Council has approved the purchase of 97 Tejas fighter jets and 156 Prachand helicopters to boost the country’s defence. The Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets are being procured for the Air Force. Prachand helicopters will be provided to the Army and Air Force. The Rs 1.18 lakh crore deal is a wake-up call for the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme.
The council approved the deal worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore, including anti-ship missiles and artillery. It also has the feature that 98 percent of this amount is spent in the local industry sector.
This is the largest defense deal for an indigenous industry in the country’s history. After the final price is decided through negotiation, the process will be completed once the Cabinet Committee on Security gives its approval. In 10 years, the force will get airplanes and helicopters.
The Council also approved the upgrade of the existing Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft. 84 Sukhoi aircraft are being upgraded with indigenously developed radar, avionics and subsystems etc. Apart from this, it is allowed to buy automatic target trackers and computers to be fitted to the Russian-made T90 tanks and to buy new ones to replace the existing cannons. Medium-range anti-ship missiles for the Navy. This too will be fully indigenously developed.
