The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which met gave formal approval for procurement of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters worth over Rs. 21,000 crore. The Navy had issued the Request for Information (RFI) last year but clarity was awaited on the implementation guidelines under the Strategic Partnership (SP) model. The guidelines were approved recently and are expected to be issued shortly. “This is the first project under the MoD’s prestigious Strategic Partnership (SP) Model that aims at providing significant fillip to the Government’s ‘Make in India’ programme,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. SP model envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian Strategic Partner under technology transfer from a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The DAC decision will be valid for 18 months within which the Navy has to process the deal. The selected manufacturer will then tie up with a suitable Indian partner to manufacture the helicopters in India. For the Army In another deal for the Army, the DAC granted approval for procurement of 150 indigenously developed 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), at an approximate cost of Rs. 3,364.78 crore. These guns have been indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with the private sector. They will be manufactured by production agencies as nominated by the DRDO, the statement said. The DAC also cleared the procurement of 14 Vertically Launched Short Range Missile Systems for the Navy, which will boost the self-defence capability of ships against Anti-Ship Missiles. Of these, 10 systems will be indigenously developed.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com
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