In a move to bolster its military capabilities amid ongoing tensions with China, the Indian Defence Ministry is poised to approve two major projects: the procurement of 1,700 Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) to replace its aging T-72 tanks and the construction of seven advanced stealth frigates.
A high-level meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled for today at South Block, where top officials including the Chief of Defence Staff, the three service chiefs, the Defence Secretary, and other key personnel will deliberate on these critical procurements.
The Indian Navy is seeking to acquire seven new warships under Project 17 Bravo, envisioned as the most sophisticated stealth frigates ever built in India, surpassing even the Nilgiri-class frigates currently under construction. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is expected to greenlight a tender worth an estimated Rs 70,000 crore, to be awarded to Indian shipyards, including private sector players, under the 'Make in India' initiative.
The tender will likely involve major shipbuilders like Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited, and Larsen & Toubro, among others. To expedite the project and avoid delays, it is anticipated that the tender will be split between two shipyards.
Concurrently, the Indian Army is looking to replace its Russian-origin T-72 tanks with 1,700 indigenously built FRCVs under the Make-1 procedure of the Defence Acquisition Procedure. The tanks are required to have over 60% indigenous content, with major companies like Bharat Forge and Larsen & Toubro expected to participate in the tender. The Army aims to phase out the FRCV project, with each phase involving the construction of approximately 600 tanks.
The overall FRCV project is estimated to cost over Rs 50,000 crore and is aimed at modernizing the Army's Armoured Regiments. In addition, the Army is also expected to propose the acquisition of around 100 BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles during the meeting.
These ambitious procurement plans underscore India's commitment to strengthening its defence capabilities in the face of regional security challenges. By focusing on indigenous manufacturing under the 'Make in India' initiative, the government is also promoting self-reliance in the defence sector and boosting the domestic economy.
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