India MoD cleared purchase of 363 new BMP-2 IFVs and two Pinaka MLRS regiments

Defence & Security News - India
 
India MoD cleared purchase of 363 new BMP-2 IFVs and two Pinaka MLRS regiments
The Indian defence ministry on Thursday, Oct. 29, cleared new military modernisation proposals worth over $1.8 bn (Rs 12,000 crore), ranging from the acquisition of two additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multiple-launch rocket systems to the production of 363 BMP-II infantry combat vehicles by the Ordnance Factory Board.
     
Indian MoD cleared purchase of 363 new BMP 2 IFVs and two Pinaka MLRS regiments 640 001The Indian MoD cleared purchase of two new regiments of Pinaka MLRS systems
     
The defence acquisitions council (DAC) also “amended” the ”acceptance of necessity” (AoN) granted for the production of 363 BMP-II infantry combat vehicles by the Ordnance Factory Board under licence from Russia at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore ($275 mn). The modified AoN – which signifies the approval for theprocurement process to kick off — is now for the acquisition of 149 BMP-IIs at a cost of Rs 924 crore ($141 mn) for the Army. Both these decisions come just a day before Parrikar leaves for a visit to Russia on Friday evening.

The DAC also cleared two more Pinaka MLRS regiments for the Army, at a cost of Rs 3,306 crore ($506 mn), to add to the two such regiments the force already has to plug gaps in its medium-range, high-volume firepower. With a strike range of 40-km, the Pinaka MLRS are manufactured by the Tatas and L&T based on technology developed by DRDO.

The Rs 1,800 crore ($275 mn) case for “digitization” of 25 firing units of the Pechora surface-to-air missile system was also approved by the DAC. This will ensure that the ageing Pechora system, which has a range of 30-km, can be used by the IAF for another decade or so.