In an effort to ward off any threat from air to vital installations and strategically important zones, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday cleared a proposal worth over
Rs 7,000 crore for 244 air Defence guns for the IAF.
The apex body, which clears proposals for buying weapons, also gave the nod for specialised weapons and sensor systems for warships. These weapons will be installed on seven Shivalik class ships now under construction. The total cost of these ships under P-17 A project is nearly Rs 50,000 crore.
The air Defence guns to be acquired under the ‘Buy and Make’ category will be installed around sea ports, airports, oil fields and metropolitan cities, officials said here after the DAC meeting. The guns can shoot down UAVs, incoming missiles and enemy planes, they added.
The DAC also discussed the new Defence Procurement Policy(DPP) for laying down guidelines for manufacturers be it Indian or foreign about procedures to supply weapon systems to Armed Forces. The NDA Government is making the existing DPP less tedious to ensure faster delivery of weapons. The revised DPP is already delayed by several months and the Government is likely to take a final call in the next DAC towards the end of this month, officials said.