Big ticket weapons in mega IAF list of desi projects worth over Rs 3 lakh crore

The Indian Air Force is working on ‘Make in India’ schemes valued over Rs 3.15 lakh crore, making it one of the largest indigenization projects in the military industry. The force is led by Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. The 180 Light Combat Aircraft Mark1A, 156 Light Combat Helicopters, Light Utility Choppers, and many other weapon systems that are expected to make up a sizable portion of the service in the near future are included in the list of weapon systems and platforms. Senior defence officials informed ANI that the LCA Mark1A alone is expected to cost over Rs 1.2 lakh crore and will have a significant impact on the growth of a domestic fighter aircraft manufacturing ecosystem. Senior defence officials informed ANI that the LCA Mark1A alone is expected to cost over Rs 1.2 lakh crore and will have a significant impact on the growth of a domestic fighter aircraft manufacturing ecosystem. According to the officials, developing a sizable military sector is essential to reaching Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of a $5 trillion economy. According to defence authorities, as the “Aatmanirbharta” plan of the armed forces gains momentum, the agenda of meetings relating to acquisitions is quickly becoming “Indian in the true sense.” The Air Force is receiving 180 LCA Mark 1A aircraft, for which the first contract for 83 aircraft has already been inked, according to authorities providing information on the indigenous made-in-India projects. The Indian Air Force is undertaking a significant programme to upgrade the Su-30MKI fighter jet fleet as part of a Rs 65,000 crore initiative. A collaborative team from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air Force would handle the project domestically, and the aircraft would be outfitted with homegrown radars, avionics, and weaponry. The project has been transferred to the Defence Ministry and is going to be the subject of important high-level discussion. The upgrade plan would be implemented gradually on the remaining 160+ aircraft, starting with approximately 90 aircraft, bringing them very near to fifth-generation capabilities. The Indian Air Force is focusing on constructing a spy plane that would be able to detect all enemy activity after addressing the development of the Airborne Early and Control Aircraft requirements through a few indigenous plans. The IAF can be given a powerful tool by the intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to improve battlefield transparency and situational awareness. The Indian Air Force will receive a significant upgrade in terms of firepower when it comes to rotary wing capabilities, and the domestic sector will also receive a similar boost. The services expect to spend about Rs 45,000 crore on the purchase of 156 light combat helicopters, with the IAF serving as the lead agency. The Indian Army and Air Force’s fleet of Cheetah/Chetak helicopters will be replaced with an indigenous Light Utility Helicopter with help from the Indian Air Force. The ambitious Indian Multirole Helicopter Programme being carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will also have the cooperation of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force’s Project Kusha, which calls for the acquisition of five Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR-SAM) units with capabilities comparable to those of the Russian-made S-400 air defence missile systems, three squadrons of which have already been enlisted in service, has recently received approval from the Defence Ministry. The Project Kusha has received approval for funding totaling around Rs 21,700 crores, and it will be executed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) jointly with private and public sector industry. The Medium Range-Surface to Air Missile project has already been completed and a few missiles have already been inducted into the service. The project is worth Rs 14,500 crore. The Indian Air Force is also seeking final approval for its over Rs 7,500 core project for Close in Weapon Systems, which is being constructed for it by the private sector industry and is intended to safeguard its key assets. The ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles, which will be deployed by the IAF for conventional missions and warheads, are also being produced by the DRDO. The C-295 transport aircraft has also been added to the Air Force, marking the first private sector joint venture to be established for the production of transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Over Rs 22,000 crores would be spent on the project, which would fund the domestic production of over 40 aircraft. Additionally, the Indian Air Force is going to get the basic trainer aircraft in the HTT-40 being built by the HAL at a cost of Rs 6,100 crores. (With agency inputs)