New Delhi: The Defence Ministry on Wednesday gave its nod for the procurement of military platforms and hardware, including 25 indigenously developed ALH Mark-III helicopters for the Indian Armed Forces amounting to Rs 13,165 crore.
Other procurement includes guided munitions and rocket ammunition.
The cost of acquiring the helicopters has been estimated at Rs 3,850 crore, while a batch of rocket ammunition will be procured for Rs 4,962 crore, Defence Ministry said in an official statement.
The ALH Mark-III is a twin-engine, multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight category.
The procurement proposals were approved at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Out of the total procurements, equipment and platforms worth Rs 11,486 crore will be sourced from domestic entities, while the cost of acquiring the advanced light helicopters from the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has been estimated at Rs 3,850 crore.
"The DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisitions proposals for modernisation and operational needs of the Indian Armed Forces amounting to approximately Rs 13,165 crore. Of the total amount approved, procurement worth Rs 11,486 crore (87 per cent) is from the domestic sources," the ministry said in the statement.
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"Looking into the need of the Indian Army for an Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Squadron, to improve its integral lift capability ensuring its operational preparedness, the DAC accorded approval of procurement of 25 ALH Mark III helicopters from the HAL," the statement added.
According to reports, procurement of the ALH has been a long-standing demand of the Indian Army to strengthen its lift capabilities.