DAC approves arms procurement worth Rs3,687 crore
28 Apr 2018
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday accorded approval to capital acquisition proposals of the three Services, including procurement of naval guns to be mounted on ships and antitank NAG missiles for the Army, at total cost of Rs524 crore.
The third generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile system includes the NAG, along with the Missile Carrier Vehicle (NAMICA). The NAG missile is a third generation anti-tank guided missile, which has top attack capabilities that can effectively engage and destroy all known enemy tanks during day and night.
This, according to the defence ministry, will give a quantum boost to the Army's capability against enemy armour.
The DAC also approved procurement of thirteen 127 mm calibre guns for the Navy. These guns will be fitted on-board new construction ships for undertaking surface engagements, including Naval Gunfire Support Operations.
The guns will enable Naval ships to provide fire support and engagement of targets on the land. These guns can engage targets in the range of 24 km, which could be extended further by using Extended Range Gun Munitions (ERGM).
These guns, a long outstanding requirement of the Navy would be procured from BAE Systems of the United States of America under the categorisation of Buy (Global) at an approximate cost of over Rs3,000 crore.
The DAC also reviewed the progress of the DRDO programme to develop indigenous Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).