On Thursday, India reportedly granted its initial approval for the acquisition of an additional 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and approximately 150 Prachand helicopters. This move is intended to enhance the overall combat capability of the armed forces.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also approved an Indian Air Force proposal to enhance its Su-30 fighter fleet, according to sources cited by PTI.
It is reported that the mega procurement projects and the Su-30 upgrade program are anticipated to incur a cost of Rs 1.3 lakh crore to the exchequer. The defense ministry is expected to release the details of the DAC-approved projects soon.
Originally, the Indian Air Force bolstered its fighter fleet with the acquisition of 272 Su-30 aircraft through an order from Russia. In a recent update, approval has been granted for an additional order of 12 Su-30 jets, valued at Rs 11,000 crore. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be responsible for manufacturing these jets.
