In a primary growth to the government’s efforts to achieve 'Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in advanced defence technologies, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave its nod to capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 7800 crore that also comprises procurement and installation of Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite on Mi-17 V5 Helicopter fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

To be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) under the Buy Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, the advanced EW systems will enormously enrich the battle-survivability of the multi-purpose helicopters while undertaking operational missions against adversaries’ ground-based as well as airborne fire control and surveillance radars.

The evolution follows last year’s contract between the BEL and Defence Ministry for the supply of an Advanced Electronic Warfare Suite for IAF fighter aircraft estimated to be around Rs 1993 crore.

The EW suite project effectively embodies the spirit of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and has been indigenously created and formulated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Parallel Advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) System ‘Shakti’ designed and developed by the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) – the Hyderabad-based laboratory of DRDO – has been installed on Indian warships for the interception, detection, classification, identification and jamming of conventional and modern radars. It furnishes an electronic layer of defence against modern radars and anti-ship missiles to assure electronic dominance and survivability in the maritime battlefield.

The DAC meeting held under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for weapons procurement for the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopters.

Manufactured by US global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, the MH-60R is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics/sensors.

As many as 24 of these helicopters are being procured by India under Foreign Military Sales from the US Government and are altered with several Unique Equipment and weapons.

The delivery of all 24 MH 60R helicopters will be finalised by 2025, significantly boosting the integral Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability of the Indian Navy.

Major boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat

The procurement of LMG is a major boost to the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative of the government. The LMG will be manufactured by the Indian industry under the 'Make in India' programme. The procurement of EW Suite for Mi-17 V5 helicopters will enhance the survivability of the helicopters in hostile environments. The procurement of weapons for MH-60R helicopters will further strengthen the Indian Navy's maritime capabilities. The procurement of air defence systems for the Indian Army will improve the Army's ability to defend against aerial threats.

Thursday’s meeting also gave the government’s go-ahead for the procurement of a Ground-Based Autonomous System for mechanised infantry and armoured regiments which will facilitate diverse operations like unmanned surveillance, logistic delivery of ammunition, fuel and spares and casualty evacuation on the battlefield.

The Defence Ministry stated that proposals for procurement of 7.62×51 mm Light Machine Gun (LMG) and Bridge Laying Tank (BLT) have also been cleared by the DAC.

While the induction of LMG will enhance the fighting capabilities of infantry forces, the induction of BLT will result in faster movement of mechanised forces.

Atmanirbhar Bharat

"The DAC has also accorded AoN for procurement of ground-based autonomous systems for mechanism infantry and armoured regiments which will enable various operations like unmanned surveillance, fuel and spares and casualty evacuation in the battlefield, " the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The AoN for procurement of ruggedised laptops and tablets for the Indian Army under ‘Project Shakti’ has been accorded from indigenous vendors only."The DAC has also accorded AoN for procurement of ground-based autonomous systems for mechanism infantry and armoured regiments which will enable various operations like unmanned surveillance, fuel and spares and casualty evacuation in the battlefield, " the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. 

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