India to procure arms worth Rs 6,900 crore

The Indian government yesterday cleared the procurement of weapons valued at over Rs 6,900 crore as New Delhi aggressively pushes for modernization of the armed forces in the face traditional rivals Pakistan and China.

The money will be used to procure Thermal Imaging (TI) Night Sights for the Rocket Launcher (RL) used by the Army and the Air Force. TI accurately targets enemy bunkers even in complete darkness.

The system will be bought from established Indian vendors in effort to boost indigenisation, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The clearance was given at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Committee headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Committee also accorded approval for undertaking Design and Development of the Long Range Dual Band Infrared Imaging Search and Track System (IRST) for SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft, a system which will will be able to operate in day and night conditions and substantially enhance the capabilities of the aircraft.

"In the last eight months alone, the DAC has pursued modernisation of the armed forces with greater vigour and has accorded major thrust on indigenisation. Approvals for procurement of equipment valued at approx Rs 43,844 crore, have been accorded, of which, Rs 32,253 crore would be Made-in-India, through the indigenous route," statement added.