Defense Ministry clears purchase of military equipment worth Rs. 3,687cr
On Friday, the Defense Ministry announced the procurement of military equipment worth Rs. 3,687cr. The capital acquisition proposals for long-range Navy guns and the indigenous NAG anti-tank missiles were approved at a meeting of the defense acquisition council (DAC) chaired by Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The acquisitions are expected to boost the Indian Army's capabilities against enemy armour and long-range land targets. Here's more.
The DAC has approved the procurement of 13 127mm calibre guns for the Navy from US-based defense manufacturer BAE systems. The 13 guns come at a cost of over Rs. 3,000 crore, constituting the bulk of the sanctioned spending. The guns will be fitted aboard newly constructed Navy ships and will have a range of 24km, further extendable using Extended Range Gun Munitions (ERGM).
The rest of the sanctioned amount, Rs. 524cr, will go towards the acquisition of the indigenous NAG anti-tank missile system, developed by the DRDO. The purchase includes 300 third-generation anti-tank guided missiles, and 25 tracked missile carrier vehicles called NAMICA. The NAG system has top attack capabilities and, with a range of 4km, can destroy "all known enemy tanks" during both day and night.
