The Indian newspaper "The Economic Times" in the article [...] "Major defense production boost: India about to kick-start three mega indigenous projects" ("Major growth of defense production: India is going to launch three national megaprojects") reports that the Government of India plans to implement three major defense procurement projects by the national industry, including the purchase of 97 Tejas Mk 1A fighters, the construction of its second aircraft carrier (IAC-2) and the acquisition of 156 Prachand light combat helicopters (LCH). The main news is the final approval of the Indian Navy's intention to order a second nationally built aircraft carrier IAC-2, similar to the already built first national aircraft carrier R 11 Vikrant (IAC-1), abandoning ambitious plans to build a larger nuclear-powered ship.
The first aircraft carrier of the Indian national construction R 11 Vikrant (IAC-1) on tests (c) of the Indian Navy
India is ready to start implementing three defense megaprojects worth 1.4 lakh crore ($16.8 billion), defense columnist Rajat Pandit reported in the Times of India on November 24, 2023.
These three megaprojects include the construction of another aircraft carrier, and the purchase of 97 more Tejas fighters and 156 Prachand light combat helicopters.
It is expected that at a meeting scheduled for November 30, the Defense Procurement Council, headed by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, will consider the issue of "recognition of the need" (AoN) of these three critical projects. After the approval of AoN, tenders and commercial negotiations will be held. The projects will then be submitted to the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security for final approval.
As noted above, these projects, which are vital for strengthening India's military readiness in response to China's growing potential, include the purchase of 97 Tejas Mk 1A fighter jets, the construction of a second aircraft carrier of its own (IAC-2), as well as the acquisition of 156 Prachand helicopters.
The purchase of 97 Tejas Mk 1A fighters worth about 55,000 crores ($6.6 billion) is an addition to the 83 aircraft already ordered under the previous contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
These aircraft are needed to increase the number of fighter squadrons of the Indian Air Force, which currently stands at 31 squadrons, which is below the 42 squadrons needed to counter threats from China and Pakistan.
The construction of the second national aircraft carrier (Indigenous Aircraft Carrier - IAC-2) at the Cochin Shipyard Limited, estimated at 40 thousand crores ($4.8 billion), is a "re-order" of the ship according to the type of the Vikrant aircraft carrier already built there. The Indian Navy is striving to meet its operational needs, given that Vikrant will become combat-ready only by mid-2024.
The purchase of 156 Prachand helicopters worth about 45,000 crores ($5.4 billion) is necessary for high-altitude offensive operations in areas such as the Siachen Glacier and eastern Ladakh.
Although initially the Indian Navy wanted to purchase the IAC-2 nuclear aircraft carrier, budget constraints led to the choice of a less powerful option with an electric [so in the text - really a gas turbine] power plant. Currently, China has two aircraft carriers in service and plans to build additional ones, while the United States has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.