New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved four significant defense contracts totaling around Rs 35,000 crore, aimed at bolstering the combat capabilities of India’s armed forces. This includes the largest-ever deal for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
In a decision made on Wednesday evening, the CCS gave the green light to a contract worth nearly Rs 19,500 crore for over 220 extended-range BrahMos missiles, with a strike range of 450 km, to be deployed on frontline Navy warships. The contract is expected to be finalized in early March, as per sources cited in media reports.
Another approved deal involves the procurement of new advanced engines for the existing MiG-29 fighters in the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet. These engines, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics in collaboration with Russia, will cost approximately Rs 5,300 crore.
Additionally, two other projects receiving approval are for high-powered radars and new versions of the L-70 air defense guns, each valued at almost Rs 5,000 crore. These projects will be executed by L&T with the integration of foreign technology, according to sources.
BrahMos missiles, produced jointly with Russia in India, have become the primary non-nuclear precision-strike weapon for the armed forces, with contracts worth over Rs 38,000 crore already in place.
“The new Rs 19,500 crore contract, the first consolidated order for extended-range BrahMos missiles, will further strengthen our capabilities. Until now, upgrades to the existing 290-km range missiles were only conducted during warship refits or maintenance,” a source explained.
Delivery of the new missiles is expected over the next five to six years. Additionally, work on an 800-km variant of BrahMos is underway.
Currently, approximately 15 frontline warships are equipped with BrahMos missiles, including the latest destroyers like INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao, and INS Imphal. All new destroyers and frigates will also be armed with BrahMos missiles.
The IAF is considering arming another 20-25 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters with BrahMos missiles, following the modification of the first batch of 40 jets by HAL to carry the missile. These Sukhois equipped with BrahMos missiles can execute long-range strikes against high-value targets at sea and on land.
Meanwhile, the Army plans to induct more BrahMos regiments to augment the existing four. Some BrahMos batteries are currently deployed in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh due to ongoing military tensions with China.
