TSAMTO, November 9th. At a meeting of the Defense Procurement Council (DAC) of the Government of India on November 2, arms procurement projects worth 79.65 billion were approved. rupees ($1.07 billion) under the "Make in India" policy.
According to the Times of India, a project for the purchase of 12 light general-purpose helicopters (LUH) by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the amount of about 15 billion rubles was approved. The first helicopter of this batch is likely to be delivered to the troops in August-September next year. In total, the project provides for the supply of 126 helicopters of this type to India and 61 units to the Air Force .
In addition, it is reported that the DAC Council, headed by the Minister of Defense, officially refused the US-proposed acquisition of 13 units of 127-mm Mk-45 naval artillery installations and related equipment worth over $ 1 billion to equip Indian Navy warships.
Instead, upgraded 76-mm medium-range rapid-firing SRGM guns of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited will be purchased for about 24 billion. rupees ($322.9 million).
The DAC also approved HAL's mid-life modernization of 25 Dornier 228 marine reconnaissance aircraft at a cost of about 23 billion. rupees ($309.4 million), as well as the purchase of Lynx U2 fire control systems for warships manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited.
As the newspaper notes, two other long-awaited projects for the purchase of light helicopters have not yet been officially "launched". The first of them is a joint project with Russia to produce 200 Ka-226T helicopters for the SV (135 units) and the Air Force (65 units) worth about $ 2 billion. The second program is a "strategic partnership" project for the production of 111 armed twin-engine marine helicopters with a total cost of more than 210 billion rubles. rupees ($2.82 billion).
