The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Wednesday approved proposals worth `4,444 crore, including the purchase of four helicopters for survey vessels at `2,324 crore, but deferrred a decision on a joint bid of Tata Sons ltd and Airbus for replacing IAF’s Avro transport fleet.
Besides giving its go-ahead to acquire four choppers, the DAC, under Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, also cleared the upgradation of the mobile integrated electronic warfare system, Samyukta, at a cost of `1,682 crore, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.
The DAC also cleared a proposal relating to purchase of P-7 Heavy Drop Platform, which is used for military logistics, for `402 crore, the official said. Another proposal of `36 crore for acquiring propeller engine for offshore patrol vessel of the Coast Guard was also given a go-ahead, the spokesman said.
The DAC, however, could not arrive at a decision on a joint bid by Tata Sons ltd and Airbus to replace the Indian Air Force's Avro transport fleet, according to sources. European consortium Airbus Defence and Space has made a joint bid with Tata Advanced Systems ltd (TASl) for 56 medium-transport aircraft of IAF valued at `20,000 crore ($3 billion).