The Ministry of Defence has approved the purchase of helicopters, advanced drones, air defence systems and other equipment worth Rs. 2.12 lakh crore for the Indian Army.
These include light multi-role helicopters for the Air Force, long-range kamikaze drones, mountain vehicles for use by the Army, modern artillery guns, short-range air defence systems, and anti-drone systems, among other items to be procured.
In addition, a radar-assisted system to divert incoming ship-targeting missiles, specially for the Indian Navy, will also be purchased.
82 percent domestic production: Approval for this was given at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It has been stated that this procurement will be 82 percent made by Indian companies.
Defence experts have said that this move by the central government will modernize India’s defence sector on a massive scale.
Because these will greatly increase the Indian armed forces' ability to carry out any kind of attack at any time, and their capability to prevent sudden attacks. Moreover, they will also be able to quickly transport the necessary supplies to troops stationed in remote border areas.
Air defense capability will increase: Short-range air defense systems are entirely domestically produced. Soldiers can carry them on their shoulders and use them to detect and destroy everything from drones to low-flying small missiles. This air defense system will operate within a radius of 8 km. As launching large numbers of drones simultaneously to disrupt large-scale air defense systems has become a new war tactic, this air defense system will bring down drones easily and quickly.
This will multiply the Indian Army’s surveillance capability along the border. This is because weapons and narcotics are also frequently smuggled from the Pakistan border using drones.
Additional protection for warships: Light multi-purpose helicopters will be useful not only for the Air Force but also for the Army. They will be highly useful not only in combat situations but also in rescue operations during rain, floods, and similar disasters. They will also help soldiers travel quickly from one place to another.
The missile diversion system being procured for the Navy will take the ability to protect warships from missile attacks to the next level. Most importantly, these will also effectively counter modern missiles that target ships.
Advanced radar: In addition, helicopters purchased for special purposes are equipped with ‘X-band Doppler’ weather monitoring radar. These ensure accurate surveillance in snow-covered border areas and at very high altitudes, as well as the helicopter’s safe flight.