Defense Ministry clears procurement proposals worth over Rs 16000 cr

The Defense Ministry cleared procurement proposals worth over Rs.16, 000 crore including that of Israeli Barak missiles. The Ministry had put on hold procurement of Barak-I missiles because of a CBI probe in the case since 2006. The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defense minister AK Antony approved the proposal. The proposal is for

• Acquiring two deep submarine rescue vessels for the Navy while approving the indigenous construction of the 16 anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft at the cost of Rs.13,000 crore.
• 262 Barak-I missiles worth Rs.880 crore, which are expected to be put on the aircraft carrier INS Virat and picked out air defense system for the new aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
• Aquiring 41 indigenously-built Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruvs, for the Army.
• In the Rs.300 crore procurement, one of the choppers would be provided to the Navy.