Purchase of missiles, air defence weapons worth ₹4,276 cr cleared

India on Tuesday set the ball rolling for buying indigenous helicopter-launched anti-tank guided missiles, air defence weapons and equipping more of its warships with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, with the defence acquisition council - in its first meeting in the new year - clearing army and navy proposals worth ₹4,276 crore, officials familiar the development said. DAC, which is India’s apex procurement body, accorded its acceptance of necessity for the fire-and-forget Helina missiles, launchers and associated support equipment, the defence ministry said. The army is swiftly upgrading its capability along the border with China with a variety of weapons and systems including artillery guns, swarm drone systems that can carry out offensive missions in enemy territory, longer range rockets, remotely piloted aerial systems and high-mobility protected vehicles, while also pursuing the development of light tanks for mountain warfare and futuristic infantry combat vehicles. In December, DAC greenlit defence projects worth ₹84,328 crore to sharpen the combat potential of the armed forces with new military hardware, including light tanks, FICVs, mounted gun systems, missiles and bombs.