Defence Ministry nod to Rs 2.38 lakh crore military purchase, 5 additional S-400 units to be procured

New Delhi: A year after Operation Sindoor in which they played a key role in securing the air bases, the Defence Ministry on Friday approved purchasing of five additional S-400 air defence systems from Russia to protect more IAF bases and 60 medium transport aircraft to replace the ageing AN-32 fleet.

Both are among a large number of “Acceptance of Necessity” proposals – the first step in India’s military purchase process - worth Rs 2.38 lakh crore that were green-lighted by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The DAC also cleared Army proposals to buy 300 more Dhanush guns and additional air defence tracked systems.

The approval for five additional S-400 long-range surface to air missile systems comes at a time when India, according to sources, is set to receive the last two S-400 systems contracted in 2018 in a $ 5.43 billion deal.

The fourth S-400 system may come by the second quarter of this year and the last one by 2026 end. The delivery was delayed after 2023 due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Aiming to replace the AN-32 transport aircraft fleet, the DAC approved a proposal to buy 60 transport aircraft. The plan is to buy 12 of them in a fly away conditions while the rest would be manufactured in India.

“For the IAF, proposals were cleared for the procurement of medium transport aircraft, S-400 long range surface-to-air missile system, remotely piloted strike aircraft and overhaul of Su-30 aero engine aggregates,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The MTA seeks to replace the AN32 and IL76 fleet and meet the strategic, tactical and operational airlift requirements of the forces.

While the S-400 system will counter long-range enemy weapons targeting vital areas, the remotely piloted strike aircraft will launch counter-offensive air operations. They will also carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The overhaul of Su-30 aero engine will increase the aircraft’s service life.

For the army, the approval was accorded for 300 Dhanush gun systems, more air defence tracked systems that are part of armoured columsn, armoured piercing tank ammunition, high capacity radio relay and runway independent aerial surveillance system.

For the Indian Coast Guard, approval was granted for heavy duty air cushion vehicles that will used in coastal operational roles like high-speed coastal patrolling, reconnaissance, search and rescue operations, rendering assistance to ships and carrying personnel and stores including logistics.

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry on Friday signed two separate agreements with US and Russian companies to purchase critical military hardware.

The ministry signed a Rs 445 crore pact with the Russians to buy Tunguska air defence missiles and a Rs 413 crore agreement with US aviation major Boeing for depot level inspection and maintenance of Indian Navy’s P8I fleet.