Spy planes, minesweepers: Nod for 1L crore purchases
NEW DELHI: The defence ministry gave preliminary nod Thursday to three major acquisition projects and seven smaller ones, collectively worth over Rs 1 lakh crore, ranging from specialised spy aircraft and advanced minesweepers to quick-reaction air defence missiles and underwater autonomous vessels.
The biggest project to get "acceptance of necessity" (AoN), which is just the first step in the long-winded procurement process, was for the indigenous construction of 12 mine countermeasure vessels for around Rs 44,000 crore, which will take almost a decade, sources told TOI.
These specialised warships, each with a displacement of 900-1,000 tonne, will be capable of detecting, tracking and destroying underwater mines laid by enemy forces to choke harbours and ports, disrupt shipping and maritime trade.
QRSAMs designed to intercept hostile fighters
These specialised warships are crucial amid the expanding maritime collaboration between China and Pakistan. At present, the Navy makes do with just "clip-on mine countermeasure suites" mounted on some ships to plug the major capability gap.
The second big project was the Rs 36,000 crore procurement of the new quick-reaction surface-to-air missile (QRSAM) systems developed by
DRDO
, with three regiments for the Army and three squadrons for IAF.
Overall, the Army Air Defence has projected a requirement of 11 such regiments. These highly mobile QRSAMs, designed to intercept hostile fighters, helicopters and drones at ranges up to 30km, will add to the country's multilayered air defence network that played a crucial role in thwarting multiple waves of Turkish-origin drones and Chinese missiles launched by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor May 7-10 hostilities.
The third major project was for three ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition & reconnaissance) planes, designed to identify and help target high-value enemy targets on ground with greater precision and accuracy by fighter jets & missiles, for around Rs 10,000 crore.
These aircraft will be equipped with a wide array of indigenous sensors & systems developed by DRDO, like synthetic aperture radars, electro-optical and infrared sensors, for gathering "actionable intelligence" in real time on enemy infrastructure, build-ups and movements.
Another project granted AoN was for semi-submersible autonomous vessels for ISR missions. They will be acquired under 'Make-II' category project, where prototype development is funded by the industry. AoNs were accorded for procurement of armoured recovery vehicles, electronic warfare systems and tri-Service integrated common inventory management system for better supply chain management.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Herald case against Sonia Gandhi 'truly strange': Abhishek Singhvi in court
Abhishek Manu Singhvi NEW DELHI: Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing former Congress president Sonia Gandhi , told a Delhi court Friday that ED's National Herald money-laundering case was "truly a strange case." Singhvi argued before judge Vishal Gogne that it was "an alleged case of money laundering without any property and without use or projection of property." The court is hearing arguments on whether to take cognisance of ED's chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul. Calling the case "unprecedented," Singhvi said: "Not an inch of property moved from Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) to Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI). No Congress leader gained property or money. Yet this is called money-laundering." ED alleges Sonia and Rahul, with late Congress netas Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda, and YI, fraudulently took over AJL's assets worth Rs 2,000 crore. Singhvi questioned the 11-year gap between AJL's restructuring in 2010 and ED's action in 2021. He said, "To have National Herald in a body not linked to Congress is like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark." - Vineet Upadhyay
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Women key drivers of development in urban local bodies
Gurgaon: The two-day national conference of urban local bodies (ULBs), held in Manesar, concluded with a formal resolution to enhance the impact of these institutions on national development. Participants highlighted that the core objective of ULBs is to bring about positive change in the urban service delivery framework. The pivotal role of women as key drivers of development within ULBs was also discussed. It was noted that MP has implemented 50% reservation for women in urban local governance. Remarkably, currently, 60 to 65% of women are represented in ULBs there, demonstrating their strong participation and leadership. Similarly, in Haryana, women are actively contributing to urban development by taking on leadership roles in municipal bodies. Similarly, in Haryana, women are contributing to urban development by taking leadership roles in municipal bodies. The discussion highlighted how ULBs can become a mass movement by integrating development initiatives with public participation. Greater community involvement in planning was emphasized as key to sustainable and inclusive growth. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Representatives from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation also shared their experiences, stating that ULBs are working as engines of inclusive growth while upholding their constitutional rights. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya urged ULB leaders nationwide to adopt a 'Waste to Wealth' approach using advanced waste management technologies. He said such initiatives would not only provide a fresh impetus to the Swachhata Abhiyan but also significantly enhance the economic resources of ULBs. He said the govt is committed to providing ample employment opportunities for youth, and urged ULBs to prioritize skill development initiatives in their respective areas to further enhance job prospects. He also stressed learning from cities excelling in various sectors and adopting their best practices. Madhya Pradesh urban development and housing minister Kailash Vijayvargiya emphasized transforming public participation into a mass movement. He recalled a time when the Indore municipal corporation faced a severe shortage of funds, and the public donated cement worth Rs 80 crore, which enabled the construction of roads worth approximately Rs 300 crore, an exemplary model of public participation. He also highlighted Indore's green initiative—planting 12.4 lakh saplings in a day, all surviving after a year, showcasing successful community impact.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Yellow Line delay: BJP slams Bengaluru Metro, Congress attacks Centre
Bengaluru: The long-delayed Yellow Line of Namma Metro, meant to link RV Road with Electronics City, has become the latest flashpoint between BJP and the ruling Congress over why the Rs 7,000-crore corridor remains idle despite being physically complete for over two years. With just three out of the required train sets delivered, and a fourth expected by late July, the line's opening has been repeatedly pushed — from 2021 to 2022, and now tentatively to Aug 2025. That too hinges on two pending clearances: the independent safety assessment (ISA) for the line's signalling system, and a statutory inspection by the commissioner of metro rail safety (CMRS), likely only after July 15. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru BJP has called for a "Citizen March" Saturday, accusing the Congress govt and BMRCL of misleading Bengalureans with missed deadlines. Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, along with other senior party functionaries, including R Ashoka, are slated to meet BMRCL MD Maheshwar Rao at 9.30am demanding accountability. Surya said: "This line was supposed to open in 2021. Then in 2022. Then before the 2024 elections. Now they say July. No one knows when it will actually open. People are stuck in traffic while a fully built Metro line sits unused. BMRCL is taking Bengalureans for granted." But Congress has pushed back sharply — turning the spotlight on the BJP-led Centre, which jointly funds BMRCL and oversees key safety and administrative clearances. State transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said: "BJP ruled Karnataka for four years and at the Centre for 11. Why haven't they ensured coach supply or fast-tracked CMRS inspections? They should hold their own govt accountable." A Congress delegation is also scheduled to meet the BMRCL MD at 9am Saturday, demanding that the Centre expedite the remaining approvals and train supply to prevent further delays. The 19-km elevated Yellow Line, which passes through one of Bengaluru's most congested corridors, is expected to ease traffic for lakhs of commuters. 1-hour disruption on Purple Line Metro services on the Purple Line will be partially disrupted Sunday, due to scheduled maintenance work between Indiranagar and Baiyappanahalli stations. As per BMRCL, operations between Swami Vivekananda Metro Station and Baiyappanahalli will be halted for one hour from 7am to 8am. All other stretches of the Purple Line, including Challaghatta to Indiranagar and Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield (Kadugodi), will function as usual.
