Defence Ministry Clears Initial Proposal To Acquire 97 Tejas Jets, 150 Prachand Choppers

The DAC, led by Rajnath Singh, accorded initial approval for procuring an additional batch of Tejas aircraft and Prachand helicopters. It also amended the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.

File Photo of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Source : PTI

In a significant move to enhance the country's defence capabilities, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for various Capital Acquisition Proposals amounting to Rs 2.23 lakh crore. Of this amount, acquisitions worth Rs 2.20 lakh crore, or 98% of the total, will be sourced from domestic industries, aligning with India's commitment to 'Aatmanirbharta' or self-reliance, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Defence.

The DAC accorded initial approval for the procurement of an additional batch of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and approximately 150 Prachand helicopters, news agency PTI reported official sources as informing. 

The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) is a formal step in the procurement process of the Indian defence system. In this step, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, approves the necessity to acquire certain equipment, weapons, or systems for the armed forces.

The committee has granted its nod for the procurement of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk 1A from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. Additionally, the DAC approved the upgradation of Su-30 MKI Aircraft indigenously from HAL, the statement informed without specifying the number of aircraft to be procured.

According to the Centre, acquisition from domestic defence industries will reduce dependability "on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) substantially".

DAC Amends Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 For Domestic Procurement

To further advance indigenisation, the DAC amended the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. "It has been decided that henceforth, in all categories of procurement cases, minimum of 50% of indigenous content shall be in the form of material, components & software that are manufactured in India. For the purpose of calculation of Indigenous content, cost of Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC)/Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC)/After Sale Service shall be excluded," the statement informed.

The AoN approvals cover a range of critical acquisitions, including two types of Anti-tank Munitions, Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-2 and Type-3, designed to neutralise Tanks, Armoured personnel carriers, and enemy personnel. The Indian Army will also see an upgrade in its artillery forces with the procurement of a state-of-the-art Towed Gun System (TGS) to replace the Indian Field Gun (IFG), which has completed its service life, the statement informed.

"The AoN was also accorded for 155 mm Nubless projectile for use in 155 mm Artillery guns which will enhance lethality and safety of the projectiles. All these equipment of the Indian Army will be procured under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category," it added.

For the Indian Navy, the DAC accorded AoN for the procurement of Medium Range Anti-Ship Missiles (MRAShM) for surface platforms under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. "The MRAShM is envisaged as a lightweight Surface-to-Surface Missile which will be a primary offensive weapon onboard Indian Naval Ships," the defence ministry stated.

The DAC further approved AoNs for the procurement and integration of Automatic Target Tracker (ATT) and Digital Basaltic Computer (DBC) for T-90 Tanks, contributing to maintaining the combat edge of T-90 tanks over adversary platforms.

The DAC's decision also seeks to encourage start-ups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) participation in the defence ecosystem. For procurement cases with AoN cost up to Rs 300 crore, registered MSMEs and recognised start-ups will be considered for issuing Request for Proposal (RFP) without financial parameter stipulations. This consideration can be extended, with the approval of the Defence Procurement Board (DPB), for AoN costs up to Rs 500 crore on a case-to-case basis, the defence ministry informed.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to X and posted, "The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) today approved capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore to enhance the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces. Procurement of Light Combat Helicopters & Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A from HAL has been cleared. Happy to note that 98 percent of these platforms/equipments to be sourced from the domestic industries. This decision will provide further boost to ‘Make in India’ and strengthen self-reliance in Defence sector."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it as an "excellent move" as he wrote, "Excellent move towards bolstering our Armed Forces' operational prowess. The commitment to 'Make in India' in this decision marks a crucial stride in our pursuit of self-sufficiency in the Defence sector."

About Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft, Prachand Light Combat Helicopter

The Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is a fourth-generation fighter with advanced operational features, including an active electronically-scanned array radar and air-to-air refuelling capability. It received the final operational clearance for induction into the Indian Air Force as a fully-weaponised fighter jet in February 2019.

The Prachand Light Combat Helicopter, a 5.8-tonne twin-engine helicopter designed for high-altitude deployment, was inducted into the IAF and the Army last year. Developed by HAL, it has a service ceiling of around 21,000 feet. The new procurement of Prachand choppers aims to diversify the IAF's attack helicopter fleet, which currently includes the HAL Rudra, US-made Apaches, and Russian Mi-35s.

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