The Indian Army has issued a tender to support its program for the restoration and life extension of in-service T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs). According to a request for information (RFI) issued by the Indian Army on November 21, the program – named ‘Overhaul II of Tank T-72‘ – is carried out to ensure restoration of the T-72 to “as good as new condition”.

The program seeks to “neutralise effects of age, usage, and restoration of T-72 to near-zero hour [and] zero km state of operational readiness”, the RFI said.

The T-72 restoration process comprises “stripping of the tank, removal of assemblies, stripping of the repairable assemblies, inspection of the components of repairable assemblies, and replacement of assemblies [that are not repairable] with new ones”, the RFI added.

The process also includes “100% replacement of parts that have limited shelf life such as gaskets, seals, rings, bearings, fasteners, washers, and so on; testing of assemblies; integration in tanks; and quality assurance”, the RFI said.

The program, according to the Indian Army, includes rectification of major/minor weld defects and worn-out portions of the T-72 hull; replacement or revalidation of rubber parts, metal pipes, and engine sub-assemblies; and replacement or revalidation of cooling, fuel, lubrication, air induction, exhaust, and transmission systems components.

Indigenisation of Ammunition

Rising conflicts globally have posed challenges and disrupted supply chains. The ongoing war in Ukraine and before that the Ladakh stand-off made it imperative that a clear road map for ammunition procurement and long –term requirement should be in place.

The efforts to secure supply chains and avoid any impact on operational preparedness has led to finalisation of the long-term requirement for a decade and a clear road map for ammunition procurement has been put in place. About 85% of the ammunition requirement has been indigenised, from both the public and private sectors.

The aim is to build up ammunition stocks to desired levels, minimise imports and achieve self-sufficiency in the country, have multiple sources of supply, and possess indigenous manufacturing capability. First step is to indigenise all import-dependent ammunition — major platforms with long-term requirement.

Indigenisation of more than 30 variants, amounting to about Rs 16,000 crores as part of import minimisation, is under way and five or six variants of ammunition have been identified for production through the Indian industry, which will expand the indigenous vendor base. Subsequently, next-generation high-tech ammunition based on research and development is being identified for in-house development.

Bulk of the ammunition is being met by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and the rest by the Indian industry. Less than 10% is met purely through direct imports and there is also some amount of legacy platforms in small numbers that are in the process of being phased out.

Under the three rounds of emergency financial powers granted by the Defence Ministry, the armed forces had undertaken major procurement and stocking of spares and ammunition. The fourth round of emergency procurement was completed recently and it ensured enough stocks of critical ammunition and also helped offset delays to some extent in deliveries of spares, components and ammunition since the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022.

Most of the Indian Army’s armoured fleet is of Russian-origin and the air defence has several legacy systems. Currently, about 10 to 12 ammunition categories in over 30 variants are being indigenised on priority and these are undergoing field trials.

With several Indian private companies now in the race to manufacture ammunition in the country, the ammunition stocking through indigenisation efforts will help Army’s operational preparedness to meet future threats.

Pinaka Rockets for Rs 2800 Crore Approved

In a bid to augment the Indian Army’s arsenal, the Defence Ministry has approved a Rs 2,800 crore proposal for buying around 6,400 of two types of rockets for Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, designated as Area Denial Munition Type-2 and Type-3.

The Indian Army will procure the rockets exclusively from indigenous sources and two main contenders include the Economic Explosives Limited of Solar Industries and the Munitions India Limited– a key ammunition-producer created by the corporatisation of the erstwhile Ordnance Factories.

The indigenous Pinaka weapon system has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The weapon system is one of the first few Indian military systems exported to foreign nations, including Armenia. Private sector companies Larsen & Toubro, Tata Defence and Economic Explosives Limited involved in the project have set up production lines for the Pinaka system that are being supplied in bulk to the armed forces.

The army has a requirement of 22 regiments of the Pinaka MBRL as part of larger artillery modernisation plans. Pinaka regiments of the Indian Army include launchers with automated gun aiming and positioning systems and command posts.

70,000 More Sig Sauer Assault Rifles

The defence ministry has approved the purchase of more than 70,000 Sig Sauer assault rifles, giving its personnel a significant increase in firepower for use in terrorist operations and other missions.

The purchase of over 70,000 of Sig Sauer assault rifles is estimated to cost over Rs 800 crore. The military originally decided to purchase these rifles because it desired a weapon with a greater range. Among a number of contenders, the SiG 716 assault rifle was selected due to its superior calibre and longer range. Additionally, it is said to be more deadly than the AK-47 and its variations in the service, as well as the INSAS rifle.

In February 2019, 72,400 SiG 716 rifles (7.62 x 51mm calibre) were purchased from SIG Sauer of the US; 66,400 of them were for the Army, 4,000 for the Air Force, and 2,000 for the Navy. The American-made assault guns, which are being deployed by personnel in the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh section of the China border, have already resulted in over 70,000 indictments by India.

To improve its conventional and anti-terrorist capabilities, the Indian troops have also received a sizable quantity of Russian AK-103s. The AK-203, which is now being made at an ordnance facility in Amethi, will also soon be available to the Indian troops.

Handheld Thermal Image Devices

The Indian Army is in the process to induct around 10,000 Hand Held Thermal Imager-Uncooled (HHTI-UC) devices, for which the Request for Information (RFI) has been issued.

As per the RFI sought from the vendors, it requires the “HHTI-UC with latest technology parameters to enable soldiers to carry out surveillance up to 3,000 metres.” The surveillance device should enable day and night surveillance with a combination of high-resolution optical viewer, digital (low light) and thermal (uncooled) sensors.

The surveillance device should facilitate judging distance of area under surveillance using laser range finders, acquisition of magnetic bearing using DMC and provide own location to users employing inbuilt satellite navigation systems, including NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).

The surveillance device should weigh less than 3 kgs and facilitate recording and storage of minimum three hours of SD videos with removable storage devices. It should also enable seamless wired or wireless connectivity of minimum up to 50 metres with standard interfaces.

Once the vendors respond to the RFI, “Tentative date of issue of Request for Proposal (RFP) is June 2024. The total quantity required is approximately 10,000,” the RFI says. The procurement will be “in a phased manner, the desired quantity should be delivered within six months to twenty four months from the day of advance payment”.

The vendors should confirm in their response their capability of delivering requisite quantity of HHTI-UC within the stipulated time frame. Vendors are expected to forward the required documents and details by December 26 this year, the RFI said.

As per the RFI sought from the vendors, it requires the “HHTI-UC with latest technology parameters to enable soldiers to carry out surveillance up to 3,000 metres”. The surveillance device should facilitate judging distance of area under surveillance using laser range finders, it said.

AI-Enabled Gun-Mounted Scope

An indigenously-developed scope that can be fitted on any small weapon and turn it into a smart weapon is being tested by the Indian Army. The smart scope is powered by Artificial Intelligence that can detect humans up to 300 metres and also extensively boost border and close combat operations. Using AI algorithm and sensory data, it can tell the shooter when to fire. It had an 80-90% accuracy when tested for 100-300 metres

The smart scope is currently at its prototype stage, but a miniature version can be made too. The scope can help achieve one shot one hit capability and easily turn a soldier into a marksman. The scope first detects the target and makes a red bounding box, after which the camera checks for alignment using the laser and finder. Once the target box turns green, the shooter is alerted that he can fire.

The scope currently has only day firing capability, but it can be turned into night firing device too. The day camera has 50mm lens and 30X zoom.

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Unlike the Indian Air Force and the navy, the army currently does not have a dedicated satellite.

“The satellite will considerably enhance the communication capability of the army by providing mission critical beyond line-of-sight communication to troops and formations as well as weapon and airborne platforms,” the defence ministry said.

The five-tonne geostationary satellite will be developed indigenously by ISRO. The army is likely to get the satellite in 2026, the officials said.

The satellite with advanced security features will support tactical communication requirements of not only troops deployed on the ground, but also remotely piloted aircraft, air defence weapons and other mission critical and fire support platforms, the officials said.

“The dedicated satellite for the army is a long-standing need and will enhance the network centric warfare capabilities of the army, making them more secure and jam-proof. The army was so far dependent on the air force’s GSAT-7A satellite,” said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

The army has also carried out a detailed study of cyber and electromagnetic warfare in the Russia-Ukraine war, and established the efficacy of a reliable satellite communication system that can provide high-speed internet services to remote areas, as previously reported by HT.

India’s defence acquisition council (DAC), the government’s top weapons procurement body, had cleared the army proposal for a GSAT-7B satellite in March 2022 to sharpen its operational capabilities. The GSAT-7 series of advanced satellites built by ISRO are designed to provide communication capabilities to users over vast expanses including oceans.

Many parts and sub-assemblies and systems of the satellite will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups, the ministry said, adding that the project will generate an employment of around 300,000 man-days over the next three-and-a-half years.

The ministry also signed two other contracts worth around ₹2,400 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to sharpen the air defence capabilities of the armed forces.

The first of these, worth ₹1,982 crore, is to implement Project Akashteer, an automated air defence control and reporting system that will allow the army’s air defence units to operate in an integrated manner.

Akashteer will enable the monitoring of low-level airspace over the battle areas of the Indian Army and effectively control the ground-based air defence weapon systems, the defence ministry said.

The second contract worth ₹412 crore with BEL is for Sarang electronic support measure systems for Indian Navy helicopters.

All the three projects will provide a boost to the self-reliance campaign as they are under the most important category of acquisition for indigenisation under the defence procurement policy, or the Indian-IDDM category. IDDM stands for indigenously designed, developed and manufactured.

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On the sidelines of Aero-India Gen Pande told a group of journalists the army would be inducting the LCHs for deployment in narrow valleys in high-altitude areas as the rotary wing of home-grown combat aircraft has better manoeuvrability for mountainous regions.

He said the army needs around 110 light utility helicopters (LUH) and 90 to 95 light combat helicopters (LCH) that will be built by state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

LUH will replace the army and the Indian Air Force’s ageing fleets of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. HAL expects the army and IAF to place combined orders for at least 187 light helicopters in the coming years. Currently, the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters are a critical lifeline for troops in high-altitude areas, including the Siachen glacier.

The army has already ordered six limited series production LUH and repeat orders will follow based on the performance of the first lot of helicopters, Pande said. “We need it to be equipped with some more capabilities. HAL is working on it,” the army chief said.

HAL has already been awarded a contract for 15 limited series production LCH – 10 for IAF and five for the army. The plane maker expects follow-on orders as the army and IAF have a combined projected requirement of 160 such helicopters. LCH has an indigenous content of 45% by value, which will progressively increase to more than 55% for the series production version.

The LCH is the right fit for the army’s requirements in the mountains, Pande said. He said integrating the locally developed anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), Helina, with the LCH is a priority.

The 5.8-tonne twin-engine chopper is capable of destroying enemy tanks, bunkers, drones and other assets in high-altitude regions. The helicopter possesses modern stealth characteristics, robust armour protection and formidable night attack capability. It is capable of operating even in Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield.

The army is also set to induct next year six Apache AH64E attack helicopters, he said. The Boeing-manufactured helicopters cost upwards of ₹4,100 crore. Armed with fire-and-forget Hellfire missiles, the Apache can track up to 128 targets a minute and prioritise threats. The missiles equip the gunships with heavy anti-armour capabilities.

IMRH, which will also be manufactured at Tumakuru factory, is expected to compete with Russian Mi-17 choppers in both Indian and foreign markets. HAL says the platform could have a huge market as nearly 40 air forces across the world operate Mi-17 type helicopters. The Mi-17 is the mainstay of the IAF’s transport fleet.

The Army Aviation Corps – often described as the Indian Army’s mini air force and was a subject of cold war between the Indian Army and IAF – currently operates four squadrons of weaponised versions of Advanced Lightweight Helicopters besides the Cheetahs and Chetaks.

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SR-UAV-W, also called the Basic Archer, has undergone flight demonstration and will undergo missile evaluation soon. An official from the DRDO said, “We have made two versions of Archer-one — a basic archer also called SR-UAV-W — and Archer-Next Generation (Archer-NG). The missile evaluation trials of basic Archer are left where we will arm the UAV with anti-tank missiles and hit a dummy target. We want to see how the weapon performs. If the trials are successful, the Army and the paramilitary forces could induct these. They have expressed a lot of interest in this.”

“While working on RUSTOM 1 (a short range remotely piloted aircraft system), we came up with the idea of Archer. Basic Archer can be used to cater to the requirement of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, tracking and reconnaissance (ISTAR). It gathers real time and high quality imagery. It can operate up to a height of 22,000 feet with an endurance of up to 12 hours. It also carries Electro Optical and Infrared (EO/IR) payload,” the official said.

ADE is also working on finalising the air frames for Archer-NG. The airframe is the mechanical structure of the aircraft that includes wings, fuselage and undercarriage.

“Archer-NG can operate up to an altitude of 30,000 feet and can be used for ISTAR. The basic airframe structure will be ready in a couple of months. Archer-NG can also be used for battlefield post-strike assessment. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is our partner as far as avionics or electrical systems of Archer NG is concerned. The DRDO has introduced a policy on selection of the Development cum Production Partner (DcPP) for the DRDO developed systems, which ensures involvement of industries from the beginning of development cycle and lead to reduction in the time-frame of the development-to-induction cycle. So, Archer-NG’s realisation is also through DcPP,” he added.

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The army will invoke the fast-track procedure under emergency procurement to buy the highly-mobile, multi-configurable, wheeled vehicles, the officials said.

The development comes amid the lingering standoff with the Chinese army along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector and tensions spilling over into the eastern sector too.

In a request for proposal (RFP) seeking the participation of prospective bidders, the army on January 2  said these vehicles should be helicopter transportable and be able to operate at an altitude of 16,000 feet. “Their ability to operate in snow-covered undulating terrain with long endurance makes them ideally suitable for last-mile delivery (LMD) tasks,” the RFP said.

The army plans to operate these vehicles in areas in temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees to plus 45 degrees. An inbuilt cold engine start system is another key army requirement. Also, the engine power and operating range of these vehicles should not be less than 30 HP and 100 Km, respectively. These vehicles are expected to be deployed in Ladakh and the eastern sector too, the officials said.

The army is swiftly upgrading its capability along the border with China with a variety of weapons and systems including artillery guns, swarm drone systems that can carry out offensive missions in enemy territory, longer-range rockets, remotely piloted aerial systems and high-mobility protected vehicles, while also pursuing the development of light tanks for mountain warfare and futuristic infantry combat vehicles (FICVs).

The new logistics rough terrain vehicles should have a rollover protection system, and service life should be at least nine years or 80,000 km, the RFP said. It also details the product support, engineering support package, spares and training package for the operators. The vehicles have to be delivered within 12 months of the signing of the contract.

The army’s focus on building combat capability along the contested border with China is part of an overarching plan to steadily enhance its operational readiness to counter any challenge presented by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The border standoff between India and China erupted in May 2020. While the two sides have had partial success in disengaging rival soldiers from some friction areas on LAC in Ladakh, talks are still on to end the deadlock that has derailed the bilateral relationship. Disengagement of soldiers from all friction points is essential before de-escalation of the conflict can take place, and, finally, de-induction of troops and weapons.

Corps commanders of the two armies held talks on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on December 20, just 11 days after several Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in a clash along LAC at Yangtse, located near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. However, there was no indication of forward movement in addressing the border row in the Ladakh sector during the 17th round of military talks.

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The proposals range from slashing non-operational flab in the shape of ‘tradesmen’ and ‘legacy units’ in the Army to ‘outsourcing’ logistic support services and restructuring the specialized counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles operating in J&K.

The Army certainly needs to go in for a leaner and meaner force, grappling as it is with ballooning salary and pension bills that leave little for military modernisation with induction of new cutting-edge technologies.

Before the controversial Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment of soldiers without pension and other benefits was announced in mid-June last year, the Army had suspended recruitment rallies during 2020-21 and 2021-22 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The almost 12-lakh strong Army is actively working on several proposals to improve its tooth-to-tail ratio by further reducing its support manpower, which comes after the recruitment process was suspended for two years before the Agnipath scheme was launched last year.

The proposals range from slashing non-operational flab in the shape of ‘tradesmen’ and ‘legacy units’ in the Army to ‘outsourcing’ logistic support services and restructuring the specialized counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles operating in J&K.

The Army certainly needs to go in for a leaner and meaner force, grappling as it is with ballooning salary and pension bills that leave little for military modernisation with induction of new cutting-edge technologies.

Before the controversial Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment of soldiers without pension and other benefits was announced in mid-June last year, the Army had suspended recruitment rallies during 2020-21 and 2021-22 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This itself led to a reduction of 1.2 lakh soldiers. In the first year of Agnipath, we are in turn taking only 40,000 Agniveers in two batches,” an officer said. By around 2032, Agniveers will constitute 50% of the Army as per the existing plan to ostensibly reduce the average age of soldiers from the existing 32 to 24-26 in six to seven years as well as induct tech-savvy youth for wars of the future.

Then, there is also “adequate scope” to reduce manpower of “tradesmen”, like cooks, barbers, washermen and safaiwallahs”, who number around 80,000 in the Army, an officer said.

With terrorism on the decline in J&K, the Army is also examining whether the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), which was first raised in 1990 as a small force but now has 63 battalions, needs to be restructured.

“A division-level force of the RR, in any case, was inducted into eastern Ladakh after the Chinese incursions there in 2020. We are assessing if the number of RR battalions, or the number of companies in each battalion, can be reduced if there is no spike in terrorism again,” a senior officer told TOI.

The Army, however, has decided to gradually shut down its “animal transport companies”, reducing their number by around 70% by 2030. “Logistic drones can be useful in this,” another officer said.

The Army last month issued a RFI (request for information) for acquisition of 570 logistics drones, including those designed for deployment in high-altitude areas over 12,000-feet. “Such drones can carry out last-mile delivery to troops deployed along the borders,” the officer said.

The force earlier also floated a RFP (request for proposal) for fast-track procurement of 363 drones for the infantry to enhance operational logistics along the China border.“Such drones will reduce the need for soldiers or porters as well as animal transport to carry supplies and ammunition,” the officer said.

Some “optimization of manpower” has already been achieved with the phased implementation of the Shekatkar Committee report, which in December 2019 recommended measures to enhance combat capability, slash non-operational flab and rebalance the defence expenditure.

The implementation of certain recommendations of the committee includes redeployment of around 57,000 posts of officers, soldiers and defence civilians. All 39 military farms, for instance, have been progressively shut down.

“This itself led to a reduction of 1.2 lakh soldiers. In the first year of Agnipath, we are in turn taking only 40,000 Agniveers in two batches,” an officer said. By around 2032, Agniveers will constitute 50% of the Army as per the existing plan to ostensibly reduce the average age of soldiers from the existing 32 to 24-26 in six to seven years as well as induct tech-savvy youth for wars of the future.

Then, there is also “adequate scope” to reduce manpower of “tradesmen”, like cooks, barbers, washermen and safaiwallahs”, who number around 80,000 in the Army, an officer said.

With terrorism on the decline in J&K, the Army is also examining whether the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), which was first raised in 1990 as a small force but now has 63 battalions, needs to be restructured.

“A division-level force of the RR, in any case, was inducted into eastern Ladakh after the Chinese incursions there in 2020. We are assessing if the number of RR battalions, or the number of companies in each battalion, can be reduced if there is no spike in terrorism again,” a senior officer told TOI.

The Army, however, has decided to gradually shut down its “animal transport companies”, reducing their number by around 70% by 2030. “Logistic drones can be useful in this,” another officer said.

The Army last month issued a RFI (request for information) for acquisition of 570 logistics drones, including those designed for deployment in high-altitude areas over 12,000-feet. “Such drones can carry out last-mile delivery to troops deployed along the borders,” the officer said.

The force earlier also floated a RFP (request for proposal) for fast-track procurement of 363 drones for the infantry to enhance operational logistics along the China border.“Such drones will reduce the need for soldiers or porters as well as animal transport to carry supplies and ammunition,” the officer said.

Some “optimization of manpower” has already been achieved with the phased implementation of the Shekatkar Committee report, which in December 2019 recommended measures to enhance combat capability, slash non-operational flab and rebalance the defence expenditure.

The implementation of certain recommendations of the committee includes redeployment of around 57,000 posts of officers, soldiers and defence civilians. All 39 military farms, for instance, have been progressively shut down.

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The army accounted for the highest number of vacancies (118,485), followed by the navy (11,587) and the air force (5,819), minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt said in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.

According to the ministry records, 40,000 vacancies have been advertised for JCOs/OR in the army, 3,000 for Agniveer in the navy, and 3,000 in the air force as Agniveervayu. The Agniveers will be paid a customised package of ₹30,000 per month, with fixed yearly increment, the minister informed the House in an official statement.

 “Agniveers will not be required to contribute to any provident fund of the government.

There shall be no entitlement to gratuity and any kind of pensionary benefits in the case of Agniveers. Risk and hardship allowances will be given based on the individual’s place of posting,” the statement added.

Bhatt stated these in response to a question raised by Congress MP Deepak Baij.

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An aerial Targeting System (Extended Range) is a vehicle-mounted canister/ pneumatically/ VTOL launched system with range and endurance to carry out intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, and accurate engagement of High-Value Targets in all spectrums of warfare.

Aerial Targeting System (Extended Range) should have a minimum range of 100km with 2 meters CEP and can launch from Vehicle based canister /Pneumatic/VTOL method and can carry 8kg or more warhead with an endurance of 2hrs.

Loitering munitions are a mix of a surface-to-surface missile and a drone. They can destroy radar installations, air defence systems, communication centres as well as dynamic targets such as enemy vehicles and troops

During March 21-23, the newly-developed loitering munitions (LM0, LM1, and Hexacopter) were tested in the Nubra Valley region of Ladakh.

In addition, the Indian Army has requested additional smart loiter munitions, also known as Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munitions (CALM) Systems, for deployment in the plains and deserts along the western borders, as well as in high altitude areas up to 5,100 metres along the northern border.

Economic Explosives Limited, a subsidiary of Solar Industries India Ltd, and Zmotion Autonomous Systems co-developed the three loitering munitions.

The Indian Army has placed a request for 150 Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munitions (CALM) Systems.

India already uses the Israeli Harop loitering munition and in September 2021, placed an order for 100 explosive-laden ‘SkyStrikers’, capable of long-range tactical strikes from Bengaluru-headquartered firm Alpha Design, in a joint venture (JV) with Israeli firm Elbit Security Systems.

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Make II projects are essentially industry-funded projects involving design, development and innovative solutions by Indian vendors for development of prototypes, it said.

“Indian Army is spearheading actions to provide impetus to ‘Make Projects’ as the prime drivers of infusion of niche technologies through indigenous development,” the ministry said in a statement.

To give a further boost to the ongoing projects, the Indian Army has now approved project sanction orders (PSOs) of five Make II projects, it said. An assurance of order is given after successful prototype development, the statement said.

These projects whose PSOs have been approved, included high frequency man packed software defined radio, drone kill system, infantry training weapon simulator (IWTS), 155 mm terminally guided munition (TGM) and medium range precision kill system (MRPKS), the ministry said.

PSO for development of prototype of High Frequency Man Packed Software Defined Radio (HFSDR) under Make II scheme has been issued to 14 Developing Agencies (DAs). And, 300 HFSDRs are planned to be procured by the Indian Army, on successful development of the prototype, it said.

As part of efforts to further encourage the indigenous anti-drone ecosystem, the Indian Army has approved PSO to 18 DAs for procurement of 35 sets of drone kill systems under the Make II scheme, post successful development of a prototype. The project is reserved for MSMEs/start-ups, the statement said.

PSO has been issued to four DAs to develop the prototype for subsequent procurement of 125 sets of IWTS under the Make II procedure. The IWTS is the first tri-service Make II project with the Indian Army as the lead service, it added.

PSO has been issued to 15 DAs for “developing a prototype of MRPKS under the Make-II category of DAP 2020. Post successful development of this prototype, the IA will procure 10 Sets of MRPKS,” it added.

“The Indian Army is already progressing 43 ongoing projects under the Make II procedure of capital acquisition. 17 out of 43 projects have been initiated through suo moto proposals received from the industry, which has generated enthusiasm and confidence in the Indian defence industry for participation in the ‘Make procedure’,” the statement said.

Make II procurement scheme has given an impetus to increase the design and development in the defence industry to achieve indigenisation of high end technology systems in various types of weapon systems, ammunition and modern training systems, which are currently not available in the country, the ministry said.

“Multiple measures to expedite the ongoing Make II projects have resulted in tangible outcomes. Twenty-two out of 43 Make II projects are now in prototype development stage, which is 66 per cent of projects by cost (Rs 18,000 crore out of Rs 27,000 crore),” it said.

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The Indian Army has been ramping up its overall combat capabilities in view of the lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh.

It has significantly bolstered its fire power along the frontier with China by deploying a range of rockets and artillery weapons and it plans to procure an array of additional systems including 100 K9 Vajra howitzers and UAVs to further augment combat prowess.

The Artillery units of the Indian Army already deployed K-9 Vajra Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzers, ultra-light M-777 howitzers, Pinaka rocket systems and Dhanush gun systems.

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