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Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Loitering munitions, counter-drone systems, VSHORADS: Defence ministry signs 13 contracts worth Rs 1,981 crore
From a range of Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicles (RPAVs), loitering munitions, drones and counter-drone systems to Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADs) and radars, the Ministry of Defence has signed 13 contracts worth Rs 1,981.90 crore under the Emergency Procurement (EP) mechanism to 'enhance situational awareness, lethality, mobility, and protection for troops deployed in CT environments'. The development is significant. India had launched Operation Sindoor against terror targets inside Pakistan last month, leading to both countries launching retaliatory strikes at each other for three days before a ceasefire was reached. Aimed at enhancing the Indian Army's operational preparedness in counter-terrorism operations, the EP mechanism would enable deliveries under fast-track procedures, as against the longer procurement processes applied for other planned defence capital and revenue procurements. This will be the sixth phase of emergency procurements. According to the Defence Ministry, some of the key equipment and systems being procured under the EP mechanism include Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDDIS), Low Level Lightweight Radars (LLLR) and VSHORADs – Launchers and Missiles. The list also includes loitering munitions, including Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) systems, bulletproof jackets (BPJs), ballistic helmets, Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles (QRFVs) – Heavy and Medium Night Sights for Rifles. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Defence Ministry said it has concluded 13 contracts under the EP mechanism. 'These contracts, amounting to Rs 1,981.90 crore, have been finalised against an overall sanctioned outlay of Rs 2,000 crore for the Indian Army,' the statement mentioned. 'The acquisitions were completed within compressed timelines to ensure rapid capability augmentation,' the ministry said. 'These procurements reflect the Ministry's commitment to equipping the Indian Army with modern, mission-critical, and completely indigenous systems to meet emerging security challenges,' the ministry said, adding that the EP route continues to be a key enabler in bridging urgent capability gaps and ensuring the timely induction of vital operational equipment. Last week, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said the government had recently given emergency powers to the three services, allowing them to use up to 15 per cent of their capital budgets to urgently purchase ammunition and equipment for replenishment of operational stocks. Defence officials told The Indian Express that fast-track acquisitions of a range of modern platforms, weapons, ammunition, and other accessories in the last five years have significantly upped the Indian military's capabilities by bolstering its inventory. The three services, it is learnt, have now identified and initiated what needs to be procured on a fast-track basis till November, considering the current security situation. Emergency powers for procurements were granted to the Armed Forces when the Ladakh standoff with China began in 2020, and also after the Balakot airstrike in February 2019 and the 2016 surgical strikes. However, a majority of defence procurements, which were fast-tracked, began in 2020 and continued over the next four years with repeated extensions on emergency powers granted to the military, in the backdrop of a military standoff between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. Hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, loitering munitions, swarm drones, and counter-UAV systems have been procured by the Armed Forces over the last four years, from both foreign and domestic manufacturers, for attack, surveillance, and logistics purposes. The three services also individually procured a range of anti-drone systems from Indian firms. A range of weapon systems, such as the HAMMER air-to-ground precision-guided weapon system for the Rafale fighter jets, Spice Bombs, and Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) and armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition for the Army's T-72 and T-90 main battle tank,s have been bought under emergency powers.
The Print
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Indian Army receives new supplies of Russian-origin Igla-S shoulder-fired air defence missiles
The Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS) are an important part of the air defence protection of the Indian Army, and the new supplies of the Igla-S missiles have been received as part of a contract inked under the emergency procurement powers given by the Centre to the forces. New Delhi [India], May 4 (ANI): In a major boost for its capabilities amid tensions with Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack, the Indian Army has received new supplies of the Russian-origin Igla-S missiles. The new supplies of the Igla-S air defence missiles have been received by the Indian Army a couple of weeks ago and are being provided to the forward formations for taking care of the threat from enemy fighter aircraft, choppers and drones on the borders, defence sources told ANI. The contract worth around Rs 260 crore is expected to boost the strength of the air defence troops in the forward areas especially on the western sector, they said. The Indian Air Force has opted for a similar contract for the air defence missiles which are Infra Red sensor based VSHORADS. The Indian forces have been boosting their inventories through emergency and fast-track procurements over the last few years, where a major focus has been on the spares and other equipment to keep the fleets running through high tempo operations. Along with the fresh deliveries of the Igla-S missiles, Indian Army has also issued tender for buying 48 more launchers and around 90 missiles of the VSHORADS (IR) under fast track procedures. The forces are also looking at acquiring new versions of the laser beam-riding VSHORADS soon. The Igla-S is the advanced version of the Igla missiles, which have been in use since the 1990s. The existing inventory of older version missiles has also been refurbished by an Indian firm in the country itself. The Indian Army requires a large number of missiles as well as enhanced drone detection and destruction capabilities, given the threat from all types of unmanned aerial vehicles used by the Pakistan Army on the western front. The Army has deployed the Mark 1 of the indigenous Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System which can detect, jam, spoof and kill drones from a distance of over 8 kilometers. The systems are also fitted with lasers which can burn and bring down drones. The Army Air Defence units had recently brought down a Pakistan Army drone using the same systems opposite the 16 Corps area in the Jammu region. The Defence Research and Development Organisation has also developed a longer range and high powered direct energy weapon which can take down large size drones, cruise missiles and aircraft in times of conflicts. The Army also has to get the low-level transportable radars for a quicker detection and destruction of enemy drones and aircraft operating a lower levels. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Govt set to procure next-generation 'very short range air defence system'
The Army has placed requirements for 48 launchers, 85 missiles along with other required equipment, under 'Make in India' ANI The Indian Army issues tender to procure shoulder-fired Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (Next Generation) to take out enemy aircraft, choppers and drones, defence officials said. The Army has placed requirements for 48 launchers, 85 missiles along with other required equipment, under 'Make in India', they added. Meanwhile, the Indian army has been effectively retaliating against the Pakistan Army's unprovoked small-arms firing since the intervening night of April 25-26. Indian Army effectively responded to Pakistan's small arms firing across the LoC in the Kupwara district as well as in the Uri and Akhnoor sectors in the region. On Wednesday, India closed its airspace to all aircraft registered in Pakistan and those operated by Pakistani airlines, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), another major step following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed. India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) confirming the closure of its airspace to all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights, from April 30 to May 23 (estimated duration). On Tuesday, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan talked over the hotline to discuss the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan, as per defence sources. Sources said India warned Pakistan against the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the LoC and the International Border.
