In a recent development, the Ministry of Defence inked a pact with an indigenous Indian enterprise to revamp the simulators for the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, a pivotal component of the Indian Air Force’s fighter fleet. Spearheaded by MSME, this enhancement encompasses the integration of all native armaments and functionalities, augmenting the operational training curriculum for IAF aviators, as stated in an official release.
The Su-30 MKI fighter jets, constituting the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s aerial arsenal with a tally surpassing 270 units, are slated for a training paradigm shift facilitated by these simulators. Preceding this, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) executed five substantial capital acquisition agreements, amassing a total worth of Rs 39,125.39 crore, in the capital city of Delhi on Friday.
In the august presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, these accords were formalized. Among the quintet of agreements, one entailed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited securing a contract for the acquisition of Aero-engines destined for MiG-29 aircraft. The second involved Larsen and Toubro Limited in the procurement of a Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) and a High-Power Radar (HPR), while the remaining two engagements were with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for the purchase of BrahMos missiles and a Ship-borne BrahMos system tailored for the Indian Defence Forces.
These contractual arrangements are poised to fortify indigenous capabilities, curtail foreign exchange expenditures, and mitigate reliance on foreign-derived equipment manufacturers in subsequent ventures. The pact for RD-33 Aero Engines for MiG-29 aircraft, valued at Rs 5,249.72 crore, was sealed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with production slated at the Koraput Division of HAL.
Larsen and Toubro Limited secured the contract for CIWS at a cost of Rs 7,668.82 crore, and the procurement of HPR, costing Rs 5,700.13 crore, also went to the same entity. The latter will supplant the existing long-range radars of the IAF with a state-of-the-art Active Aperture Phased Array-based HPR, boasting advanced surveillance capabilities.
The agreement for BrahMos missiles was inked with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) at a substantial value of Rs 19,518.65 crore. These missiles are earmarked for fulfilling both combat and training requisites of the Indian Navy. Anticipated to generate employment opportunities amounting to nine lakh man-days in the Joint Venture entity and around 135 lakh man-days in ancillary industries, including MSMEs, this project promises widespread economic impact.