The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 10 capital acquisition proposals. These include future-ready combat vehicles (FRCVs) to replace ageing Soviet-origin T-92 tanks, Air Defence fire control radars, Dornier-228 aircraft, and next-generation fast patrol and offshore patrol vessels. The total cost for these proposals amounts to Rs 1,44,716 crore.
Of the total cost of AoNs, 99% is from Indigenous sources under the Buy (Indian) and Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) categories, according to the Defence Ministry statement.
The proposal for procuring Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) will be the Indian Army’s largest-ever contract in recent times in terms of value. The Ministry of Defence did not disclose the exact value after the DAC meeting. The FRCV is envisioned as a futuristic Main Battle Tank with superior mobility, all-terrain ability, multi-layered protections, precision lethal fires, and real-time situational awareness, as stated in the Ministry of Defence’s statement issued after the DAC meeting.
The Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) will be acquired in three phases under the Make 1 procedure of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP). According to sources, 590 FRCVs will be allocated in the first phase based on an earlier issued RFI. The need to replace over 1700 ageing and questionably operational T-92 tanks has become more evident over time, especially highlighted during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, where these tanks were found vulnerable.
The AoN has been granted to procure Air Defence Fire Control Radars, which will detect and track aerial targets and provide a firing solution. The government had earlier imported 66 ADFCRs, meant to replace vintage fly-catcher radars, from Israel in 2013.
The proposal has also been approved for the Forward Repair Team (Tracked), which has suitable cross-country mobility for carrying out in-situ repair during mechanized operations. Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited designed and developed this equipment and is authorized for mechanized Infantry Battalion and Armoured Regiment.
Additionally, three Acceptance of Necessities (AoNs) have been granted to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), offering more business opportunities to defence PSUs and private industries.
The Defence Ministry stated that the acquisition of Dornier-228 aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), next-generation fast patrol vessels with high operational capabilities in rough weather, and next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) with advanced technology and extended long-range operations will enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s ability to conduct surveillance, patrol the maritime zone, and carry out search and rescue, as well as disaster relief operations.
The order for ships comes in addition to the contract the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed with the state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) last December for the supply of six next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) for Rs 1,614.89 crore. MDL also secured the deal to build 14 fast patrol vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
Furthermore, based on high-level sources, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved plans for seven new P17B next-generation stealth frigates valued at around Rs 72,000 crore for the Indian Navy. This latest project will succeed the multi-role frigates Shivalik class or Project 17 and the Nilgiri-class frigates, categorized as the Project-17 Alpha frigates (P-17A), a series of stealth guided-missile frigates. Four of the seven P-17A frigates are being built at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai, and the remaining three at GRSE in Kolkata within the 2024-26 time frame.
Ravi Shankar
