Indigenous light tank hits the target accurately; Centre approves projects for Sukhoi-30 and howitzer guns

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), Army, Air Force, and L&T on the successful tests of the tank.

DRDO Chairman Sameer V Kamat congratulated the entire team including L&T for their efforts. The Indian Army is considering deploying more than 350 light tanks. Most of these tanks will be deployed in the hilly border areas. China has deployed similar tanks in this region.

Under the Make in India campaign in the defense sector, the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs (CCS) on Thursday approved two major projects for 12 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft for the Air Force and 100 K-9 Vajra automatic howitzers for the Army. Both these projects are estimated to cost around Rs 20 thousand crore.

Defense sources said that both projects have been approved by the CCS and the contract for Sukhoi-30 MKI jets has been signed. 12 SU-30 MKI jets for the Air Force would be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at its Nashik plant and the cost of these would come to around Rs 13 thousand crore. These would replace the aircraft destroyed in the last several years. Larsen & Toubro will produce at the Hazira plant in Gujarat a total of 100 K-9 automatic howitzers.

Larsen & Toubro has received a repeat order for these guns. 100 guns have already been inducted into the Army. Accordingly, the company has improved upon the indigenous components in the howitzers. The projects bagged by public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Larsen & Toubro are also likely to boost small and medium firms in their supply chains. Howitzers are deployed in the deserts as well as along the Chinese border in Ladakh.