Anti-tank missiles, air defence weapons part of ₹4.2k-cr boost

The anti-tank guided missile, Helina, will be integrated with the advanced light helicopter (ALH) and can strike targets up to 7km away, the officials said, seeking anonymity.

India on Tuesday set the ball rolling to buy indigenous helicopter-launched anti-tank guided missiles, air defence weapons and equipping more of its warships with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, with the defence acquisition council (DAC), in its first meeting in the new year, clearing proposals worth ₹4,276 crore, officials familiar the development said.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh chaired the DAC meeting on Tuesday. (ANI/PIB)

The anti-tank guided missile, Helina, will be integrated with the advanced light helicopter (ALH) and can strike targets up to 7km away, the officials said, seeking anonymity.

DAC, which is India’s apex munitions procurement body, accorded its acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the fire-and-forget Helina missiles, launchers and associated support equipment, the defence ministry said. “This missile is an essential part of weaponization of ALH for countering enemy threat. Its induction will strengthen the offensive capability of Indian Army,” it said in a statement.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh chaired the DAC meeting on Tuesday. Under India’s defence procurement rules, AoN by the council is the first step towards buying military hardware.

Helicopter launched anti-tank guided missiles figure on the long list of weapons that the government has put under an import ban to boost self-reliance in defence manufacturing. India imposed a phased import ban on 411 different weapons and systems in the past two years. These are expected to be indigenised in phases over the next five to six years.

The Helina system has all-weather day and night capability and can knock out enemy tanks with conventional and explosive reactive armour. The missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as the top attack mode, according to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In contrast to a direct hit, the top attack mode refers to a missile hitting a tank from above.

The DAC’s clearance to Helina missiles, very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) and the BrahMos launcher and fire control system (FCS) for the Shivalik class of warships is under the most important category of acquisition for indigenisation under the defence procurement policy.

“All the three proposals - two of the Indian Army and one of the Indian Navy - are under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category (introduced in 2016),” the statement said. IDDM stands for indigenously designed, developed and manufactured.

This category has been accorded top priority for procurement of equipment. It refers to the purchase of military hardware from an Indian vendor, with the equipment having a minimum of 50% indigenous content (IC) on cost basis of the total contract value.

The VSHORADS required by the army has been designed and developed by DRDO. “In view of recent developments along the northern borders (with China), there is a need to focus on effective air defence weapon systems which are man portable and can be deployed quickly. Procurement of VSHORADS, as a robust and quickly deployable system, will strengthen air defence capabilities,” the ministry said.

India has been locked in a border standoff with China since May 2020. 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 navy is also set to get a capability boost, with DAC approving BrahMos launcher and FCS for the Shivalik class of ships and next-generation missile vessels. “With their induction, these ships would have enhanced capability of carrying out maritime strike operations, interdicting and destroying enemy’s warships and merchant vessels,” the ministry added.

In December, DAC had approved defence projects worth ₹84,328 crore to sharpen the combat potential of the armed forces with new military hardware, including light tanks, FICVs, mounted gun systems, missiles and bombs.