Thursday, May 09, 2024 | Last Update : 11:05 PM IST
DAC okays purchase of Russian air defence shield
The defence ministry’s top acquisition council on Thursday cleared the purchase of an estimated Rs 40,000 crore Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile system days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra M
The defence ministry’s top acquisition council on Thursday cleared the purchase of an estimated Rs 40,000 crore Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile system days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia.
The Defence Acquisit-ion Council (DAC), cha-ired by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, has decided to buy five units of the S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems that are capable of dest-roying incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and ev-en drones within a range of up to 400 km. It also gave the go-ahead to oth-er projects worth over Rs 25,000 crore. Sources said that the step has been taken to enhance the national air defence capacity. “The price discovery will happen hereafter,” a source said when asked how much would the system cost.
Industry estimates have suggested that the missile system will cost about Rs 40,000 crore. India will be the second buyer of the missile system after China if the deal goes through.
It is expected that the deal would be a government-to-government one and could see a forward movement during Mr Modi’s visit to Russia next week. The S-400 Triumf is designed to knock down flying targets, including those equipped with stealth technologies, at a distance of about 400 km. It is also capable of taking out ballistic missiles and hypersonic targets. Compared with its predecessor, the S-300, the new S-400 has a 2.5 times faster firing rate. This is the most modern air defence system in the Russian arsenal.
The DAC also gave the Acceptance of Necessity to Army’s proposal for the purchase of six regiments of the Pinaka rocket system under the “Make in India” category for Rs14,600 crore.
Each regiment of the Pinaka comes with 18 launchers and every launcher has the capability of firing 12 rockets at the same time. Tata Power SED, Larsen & Toubro and the state-run BEML will be providing the system.
The DAC also directed the DRDO to continue with its process of making improved Pinaka system as it has proved to be a potent and proud indigenous product.
