Soldiers will get new carbines, Light Machine Guns soon
Through these decisions, the government is trying set in a motion a buying process of the entire range of personal weapons of troops.
New Delhi: In another move to equip the soldier with sophisticated and advanced personal weapons, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Wednesday gave the green signal for the capital acquisition proposals of personal weapons of the three wings of the armed forces and the Coast Guard valued at about Rs 9,435 crore.
Set to boost the Make in India effort, the DAC accorded gave the go-ahead for procurement of 41,000 Light Machine Guns (LMGs) and over 3,50,000 close quarter battle carbines under Buy and Make (Indian) category.
While the cost of LMGs has been projected at Rs 3,000 crore, the carbines are expected to cost Rs 4,607 crore.
On February 13, the DAC had approved the buying of a huge small arms arsenal of 7,40,000 assault rifles, 5,719 high-precision sniper rifles and LMGs for the three wings of the armed forces.
Through these decisions, the government is trying set in a motion a buying process of the entire range of personal weapons of troops.
A defence ministry release said: “Out of total quantities envisaged, 75 percent will be through Indian Industry under ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ category and balance through OFB. The earmarked quantity for the OFB has been kept to optimally utilise their infrastructure and capacity, as well as provide a window for assimilation of critical technologies towards building indigenous capability in Small Arms manufacturing.”
While the immediate operational requirement for the soldiers deployed on the borders will be procured through Fast Track Procurement, for the balance production lines will be set up in India.
The DAC on Wednesday also accorded approval for procurement of essential quantity of High Capacity Radio Relay (HCRR) for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force under Buy (Indian) categorisation at an estimated cost of over Rs 1,092 crore.
The proposal for acquisition of two Pollution Control Vessels (PCV) for the Coastguard has also been cleared. “These would be built by Indian shipyards under Buy (lndian-lDDM)’ category at an approximate cost of Rs 673 crore. These ships in addition to carrying out pollution control would also be capable of undertaking patrolling, search and rescue and limited salvage and fire fighting operations at sea,” the release said.