From Spy Jets To Minesweepers: Inside India's Rs 1 Lakh Crore Defence Push
India shifts focus to homegrown defence technologies, greenlighting Rs 1,00,000 crore for indigenous mine vessels, QRSAM, and ISTAR spy aircraft
In a bold and strategic shift, India has greenlit a massive defence procurement plan focused entirely on homegrown technologies instead of foreign fifth-generation fighter jets like the US F-35, French Rafale variants, or Russia's S-500 air defence system. Buoyed by the global spotlight on indigenous capabilities after Operation Sindoor, the government's decision signals a major pivot in India's military modernisation policy, emphasising self-reliance over imports.
Indian defence products, especially the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akash surface-to-air missile system, earned global praise following their performance in Operation Sindoor, India's military offensive against terror camps in Pakistan. The operation showcased India's evolving battlefield prowess and technological sophistication, prompting speculation about major new arms deals with foreign nations.
However, the Modi government has made it clear that the future lies in indigenous defence innovation. In a landmark move, the Defence Acquisition Council has cleared three major military purchases and seven other deals, all designed, developed, and manufactured in India. These include next-generation spy planes, mine-sweeping vessels, and mobile missile defence systems.
Rs 44,000 Crore For Homegrown Mine Vessels
Among the most significant approvals is the procurement of 12 indigenous Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), with an estimated outlay of Rs 44,000 crore. These 900-1,000-tonne specialised warships are designed to neutralise underwater mines that pose threats to naval operations, especially in wartime scenarios where enemy nations may attempt to blockade ports or shipping routes.
Indian Navy currently relies on basic 'clip-on" mine detection systems attached to existing vessels. With the induction of purpose-built mine sweepers, India's warships and submarines will be shielded more effectively. These vessels will serve as a frontline defence, securing maritime corridors from stealthy threats, a critical move given India's long coastline and the deepening China-Pakistan naval nexus in the Indian Ocean.
Rs 36,000 Crore For QRSAM To Fortify Air Defence
The government has also approved the acquisition of Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM) worth Rs 36,000 crore. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), these mobile missile batteries are designed to neutralise enemy aircraft, helicopters, and drones within a 30 km radius.
Three squadrons each will be provided to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force initially. The Army has projected the need for 11 full regiments. These missiles, easily transportable across varied terrains, will plug critical gaps in India's multi-layered air defence network, which already includes the S-400 and Akash systems.
Rs 10,000 Crore For ISTAR Spy Aircraft
India is also stepping up its electronic warfare and surveillance game with the approval to purchase three ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) aircraft. At a cost of Rs 10,000 crore, these advanced aircrafts will significantly enhance India's ability to peer deep into enemy territory.
Designed with indigenous sensors and systems, including synthetic aperture radar, infrared sensors, and electro-optical payloads, these aircraft are capable of detecting and tracking even the subtlest movements. Developed in collaboration with DRDO, they are expected to boost precision targeting for both fighter jets and missiles in hostile environments.
Self-Reliance Over Imports
This aggressive push toward indigenization comes even as other global powers continue to sell fifth-generation fighter jets and next-gen missile defense systems. While India has already inducted French Rafale jets and Russian S-400s, officials say the focus now is on creating a self-sustaining defense ecosystem.
Sources within the Ministry of Defence confirm that India's own 5th generation fighter project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is progressing rapidly, with prototypes expected in the next few years. By opting out of immediate foreign acquisitions, India is signaling confidence in its domestic capabilities and a long-term strategy to emerge as a global defence exporter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
22 minutes ago
- United News of India
PM Modi thanks T&T for standing with India in the fight against terrorism
Port of Spain/New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today termed terrorism as the enemy of humanity, and thanked the people and government of Trinidad and Tobago for standing with India in the fight against terrorism. In his address to the Joint Assembly of the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so, PM Modi referred to the July 1990 coup attempt on the T&T Parliament, also known as the Red House. At the time, the Jamaat al Muslimeen terror group, in a coup attempt, took the then Prime Minister A.N.R Robinson and most of his Cabinet hostage, which ended after six days and left seven people dead. PM Modi, in his address, said: 'This very Red House has itself witnessed the wounds of terror and the loss of innocent blood. We must stand united to deny terrorism any shelter or space. We thank the people and the government of this country for standing with us in our fight against terrorism.' Stating that though their two nations differ in size and geography, they are deeply aligned in their values, he said India's priority will always be the Global South. He said India is deepening its relations with T&T, and trade will grow, and India will encourage its businesses to invest more in this country. 'Our development partnership will expand. Training, capacity building, and skill development will keep human development at its centre. Health has been and will remain a key part of our partnership.' He said T&T's recognition of Indian medical standards will ensure access to high-quality, affordable medicines for all. Welcoming the Caribbean nation's decision to adopt the UPI digital payment system, the PM said India is keen to collaborate on other digital innovations. 'As India develops AI tools to foster growth and development in the Global South, Trinidad and Tobago will be a priority nation for us.' He said India will share its expertise in agriculture, horticulture and food processing. 'Machinery from India will support your agro-industry.' India will also organise an artificial limb fitment camp for differently-abled citizens, he added. 'For us, there are no limits to our cooperation with you. We will always be guided by your needs and priorities.' 'As a key player in the Caribbean and a bridge to Latin America, Trinidad and Tobago has great potential. I am sure that our ties will help us forge a stronger connection with the wider region,' the PM added. PM Modi said building on the momentum of the second India-CARICOM summit, India is eager to collaborate on initiatives that enhance trade and investment, build infrastructure and mobility, implement community development projects, and support capacity building, training and skill development on a large scale. 'The world is faced with challenges of climate change, food, health and energy security. Terrorism remains a pressing threat. Colonial rules of the past may have ended, but their shadows linger in new forms.' On the UN, he said, "When the United Nations turned 75, there was great hope across the developing world. 'A hope that long-pending reforms would be realised. That their voices would finally be heard. But that hope has turned into disappointment. The voice of the developing world remains on the margins. India has always tried to bridge this gap.' He said for India, MAHASAGAR - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, is the guiding vision for the Global South. 'Whenever we got the opportunity, we have given voice to the Global South.' 'It is time for us to work together, to give the Global South its rightful seat at the right table. To ensure climate justice, so that the burden does not fall on those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis. We consider Trinidad and Tobago an important partner in this endeavour,' he added. PM Modi delivered the address at the T&T parliament at the invitation of the President of the Senate, Wade Mark and the Speaker of the House Jagdeo Singh, PM Modi also expressed gratitude to the people of T&T for bestowing on him their highest national honour. He also underlined the close ties between the two democracies, aptly reflected in the Speaker's Chair gifted by India. 'When I look at the golden words inscribed on the Speaker's Chair :"FROM THE PEOPLE OF INDIA TO THE PEOPLE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO", 'I feel a deep sense of emotion. That chair is not just a piece of furniture but a powerful symbol of the friendship and trust between our two nations. The words express the bond that one democracy feels for another.' He also expressed delight at the significant presence of women parliamentarians in the House, and highlighted the historic step taken by India to reserve 33% seats for women in Parliament and State Legislatures. Recalling the ongoing celebrations of the 180 years of the arrival of Indians in Trinidad, Prime Minister noted that the ties between the two countries were based on the foundations of centuries-old bonds, and these would continue to deepen and prosper. UNI RN
Economic Times
24 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Ban-battered bike-taxi riders say struggling to make both ends meet
TIL Creatives The bike-taxi ban in Karnataka has battered thousands of gig workers, as a major part of their income has disappeared. About 150,000 bike-taxi riders were estimated to be operating in Bengaluru alone before the high court-imposed ban came into effect June 16. Since then, their income has come down by half, said at least a dozen such gig workers ET spoke with. These workers on bikes typically operate across segments such as bike taxi, parcel services, food delivery and quick commerce. Since they can't carry fare-paying passengers, many of them have switched fully to delivering parcels, food and groceries, causing a glut of riders in the market and affecting the income for gig workers from these sources as well. 'I used to earn Rs 800–900 daily, but now I earn only Rs 400–500. This barely covers my bike's EMI,' said Mohammed Miraj, who has worked as a bike taxi rider in Bengaluru for the past three years. The 24-year-old rode with Uber, Rapido and other platforms to make a the ban, ride-hailing platforms Rapido and Uber renamed their bike service 'bike parcel' and 'moto courier'. This allowed gig workers like Miraj to work as couriers. He now delivers parcels for Uber, Rapido and platforms such as Borzo and Porter. 'But unlike bike taxis, parcel orders are infrequent, and the drivers must travel 10-15 km with no return rides,' he taxi operations account for 40% of India's ride-hailing volumes with Bengaluru having a 15–20% share, industry executives gig economy employed 7.7 million workers in 2020-21, according to a 2022 Niti Aayog report. The gig economy offers flexible jobs through platforms such as ride-hailing, food delivery and courier services. Flexibility factor For Mohammed Salim, a 41-year-old part-time graphic designer, the bike-taxi ban meant losing more than just used to begin his day at 7 am and work till noon, dropping officegoers in the city. He did the same in the evening between 4 pm and 8 pm, taking employees home. When not ferrying people, he would work on graphic designs at home.'The bike taxi not only gave me an opportunity to earn, it also allowed me to follow my passion in graphic design. No other job gives you that opportunity (and flexibility),' he said. 'At this age, who gives a job to a 41-year-old? This ban has completely left me without an income.' Ripple effect With bike-taxi riders moving to other platforms, the earnings of gig workers who primarily focus services such as food and grocery delivery have also taken a hit. Varun (name changed to protect identity), who hails from Bihar and works full time for Zomato in Bengaluru, said his earnings shrank from Rs 11,711 a week before the ban to Rs 5,749. 'Some days I used to earn more than Rs 2,000, but after the ban it has never happened,' he said. 'Riders have increased, which made me lose many orders. Despite me getting the notification (for an order), someone else would go pick it up.' A full-timer at Swiggy said, also on the condition of anonymity, that he used to earn far more money before the ban. Between June 2 and June 8, he worked 46 hours, earning Rs 8,743. This went down to Rs 7,334 after working 56 hours in the week after the ban, his app showed. Miraj, the bike-taxi rider who is now working as a courier, said the loss of earnings and rising costs have forced him to make difficult now earns Rs 400–500 a day. From that, he saves Rs 5,000 every month to pay his bike's EMI of Rs 5,000.'I used to give my mother Rs 500 (every day) from my savings, but today after the ban I hardly even get that much myself,' he said. 'I hope the bike taxi ban is revoked. Let them bring rules — we are ready to follow. It's not just for us; many office-going people used to take our services daily.'In its order in early April, the Karnataka high court said bike taxis could not operate without proper regulations under the Motor Vehicles emails and calls to aggregator companies including Rapido, Ola, Uber, Zomato and Swiggy did not elicit any response. Other job options DriveU, which provides professional car drivers, saw its headcount swell immediately after the ban on bike taxis came into the following fortnight, around 1,200 drivers joined its ranks against 181 in the same period of the previous month, chief executive Rahm Shastry told ET.'We've seen a substantial increase in drivers looking for new opportunities after the bike taxi ban,' said Shastry. 'As more drivers join the platform, our fulfilment rate has also gone up, ensuring better service for our customers.'Earlier, it could only be able to fulfil 65% of the demand due to a shortage of drivers, but now it does 80%, said Shastry. 'We have also raised earnings from Rs 525 to Rs 575 per trip for the driver partners,' he added. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. How Balrampur Chini, EID Parry are stirring up gains amid melting sugar stocks Are Sebi's MII evaluations driving real change or just more paperwork? Delhivery survived the Meesho curveball. Can it keep on delivering profits? Drones have become a winning strategy in war; can they be in investing? Stock Radar: Trent stock showing signs of bottoming out; stock still down over 25% from highs – what should investors do? Buy, Sell or Hold: Motilal Oswal initiates coverage on Inox Wind; Gabriel top pick for Elara Securities One simple reason to own & trade them: 5 large-caps from different sectors with upside potential of up to 46% Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ban-battered bike-taxi riders say struggling to make both ends meet
The bike-taxi ban in Karnataka has battered thousands of gig workers, as a major part of their income has 150,000 bike-taxi riders were estimated to be operating in Bengaluru alone before the high court-imposed ban came into effect June 16 . Since then, their income has come down by half, said at least a dozen such gig workers ET spoke workers on bikes typically operate across segments such as bike taxi, parcel services, food delivery and quick commerce. Since they can't carry fare-paying passengers, many of them have switched fully to delivering parcels, food and groceries, causing a glut of riders in the market and affecting the income for gig workers from these sources as well.'I used to earn Rs 800–900 daily, but now I earn only Rs 400–500. This barely covers my bike's EMI,' said Mohammed Miraj, who has worked as a bike taxi rider in Bengaluru for the past three years. The 24-year-old rode with Uber, Rapido and other platforms to make a the ban, ride-hailing platforms Rapido and Uber renamed their bike service 'bike parcel' and 'moto courier'. This allowed gig workers like Miraj to work as couriers. He now delivers parcels for Uber, Rapido and platforms such as Borzo and Porter. 'But unlike bike taxis, parcel orders are infrequent, and the drivers must travel 10-15 km with no return rides,' he taxi operations account for 40% of India's ride-hailing volumes with Bengaluru having a 15–20% share, industry executives gig economy employed 7.7 million workers in 2020-21, according to a 2022 Niti Aayog report. The gig economy offers flexible jobs through platforms such as ride-hailing, food delivery and courier Mohammed Salim, a 41-year-old part-time graphic designer, the bike-taxi ban meant losing more than just used to begin his day at 7 am and work till noon, dropping officegoers in the city. He did the same in the evening between 4 pm and 8 pm, taking employees home. When not ferrying people, he would work on graphic designs at home.'The bike taxi not only gave me an opportunity to earn, it also allowed me to follow my passion in graphic design. No other job gives you that opportunity (and flexibility),' he said. 'At this age, who gives a job to a 41-year-old? This ban has completely left me without an income.'With bike-taxi riders moving to other platforms, the earnings of gig workers who primarily focus services such as food and grocery delivery have also taken a (name changed to protect identity), who hails from Bihar and works full time for Zomato in Bengaluru, said his earnings shrank from Rs 11,711 a week before the ban to Rs 5,749. 'Some days I used to earn more than Rs 2,000, but after the ban it has never happened,' he said. 'Riders have increased, which made me lose many orders. Despite me getting the notification (for an order), someone else would go pick it up.'A full-timer at Swiggy said, also on the condition of anonymity, that he used to earn far more money before the ban. Between June 2 and June 8, he worked 46 hours, earning Rs 8,743. This went down to Rs 7,334 after working 56 hours in the week after the ban, his app the bike-taxi rider who is now working as a courier, said the loss of earnings and rising costs have forced him to make difficult now earns Rs 400–500 a day. From that, he saves Rs 5,000 every month to pay his bike's EMI of Rs 5,000.'I used to give my mother Rs 500 (every day) from my savings, but today after the ban I hardly even get that much myself,' he said. 'I hope the bike taxi ban is revoked. Let them bring rules — we are ready to follow. It's not just for us; many office-going people used to take our services daily.'In its order in early April, the Karnataka high court said bike taxis could not operate without proper regulations under the Motor Vehicles emails and calls to aggregator companies including Rapido, Ola, Uber, Zomato and Swiggy did not elicit any which provides professional car drivers, saw its headcount swell immediately after the ban on bike taxis came into the following fortnight, around 1,200 drivers joined its ranks against 181 in the same period of the previous month, chief executive Rahm Shastry told ET.'We've seen a substantial increase in drivers looking for new opportunities after the bike taxi ban,' said Shastry. 'As more drivers join the platform, our fulfilment rate has also gone up, ensuring better service for our customers.'Earlier, it could only be able to fulfil 65% of the demand due to a shortage of drivers, but now it does 80%, said Shastry. 'We have also raised earnings from Rs 525 to Rs 575 per trip for the driver partners,' he added.
