Indian Navy procurement programmes

[Jack Ryan]

MCMV: Previous 12, now 8
KA-31: Previous 10, now 6
More P-8s: Previous 10, now 6
LPD: Previous 4, now scrapped
Cadet training ship: to be terminated
 

Indian Navy cutting down on procurement due to Budget cuts
 

The rationalisation process has been initiated after consecutive budgets where projected demands of the Navy have not been met. In the current budget, for example, the Navy was allocated Rs 41,259 crore against the projected amount of Rs 64,307 crore, which officials say is not even adequate to continue annual payments for acquisition contracts already signed.

With forced budget cuts hitting hard, the Indian Navy is pulling back on procurement of combat systems, cutting down on the numbers planned to be acquired in some cases and foreclosing other projects that have hit a dead end.

The rationalisation process, which is likely to be approved by the defence ministry, has been initiated after consecutive budgets whereprojected demands of the Navy have not been met. In the current budget, for example, the Navy was allocated 41,259 crore against...

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-navy-trims-acquisition-list-due-to-budget-cuts/articleshow/73281243.cms

[Syed Amar Khan]

India's defence budget is very substantial from a regional stand point however it is not the one with which India can maintain a competitiveness with China. Their domestic defence industries also failed to support the requirement of their armed forces forcing the Indian military to purchase most of their arms from abroad. This in short would render their combat capabilities limited. Without substantial improvement of ties with neighbouring countries like Pakistan it would be premature to assume the Indian military would have the wherewithal to fight China. 

[Jack Ryan]

MDL and L&T has been given permission for the mammoth Rs 45,000 cr submarine programme. I couldn't post the article, hope screenshot suffices.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/defence-acquisitions-council-shortlists-lt-and-mazagaon-docks-for-rs-45000-crore-p-75-submarine-project/articleshow/73489540.cms

[Dark Carnage]

Days before Trump’s visit, India finalises USD 3.5 billion defence deals with US: Report

Days before US President Donald Trump’s visit to India, New Delhi has finalised a USD 3.5 billion dollar for 30 heavy-duty armed helicopter with Washington.

According to a Times of India report, the Cabinet Committer on Security (CCS) will clear the USD 2.6 billion deal for 24 MH-60 ‘Romeo’ multi-mission helicopters for the Navy and USD 930 million for six AH-64E Apache attack chopper for the Army by next week.

“India will pay an initial 15 per cent instalment for the MH-60R helicopters under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) government-to-government deal. Once the contract is inked, the first lost of the choppers will be delivered in two years. All 24 will come in four to five years,” sources, quoted by Times of India, said.

“The Army should get the deliveries of the six choppers, armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, guns and rockets, around 2022-2023,” the sources further said.  

This comes days before US President Donald trump’s visit to India. Trump is slated to travel to India on February 24 and 26. According to reports, Trump will push for the case for a US fighter -- F/A-18, F-15EX or the F-21 to be selected for the mega ‘Make in India’ project to produce 114 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force for around USD 20 billion.

Earlier, India had inducted eight US-made Apache stealth attack helicopters into the IAF, significantly boosting the force's firepower capability at a time when the country faces complex security challenges including cross border terrorism.

The eight helicopters, manufactured by aerospace major Boeing, were part of a multi-billion dollar deal India struck with the US for 22 Apache AH-64E choppers nearly four years ago.

The AH-64E Apache is one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters and is flown by the US Army. The choppers are customised to suit IAF's future requirements.

The Apaches also have a fully integrated digital cockpit which enhances its mission performance. It is uniquely suited for reconnaissance, security, peacekeeping operations, and lethal attack across myriad environments without reconfiguration.

[Dark Carnage]

Just now, Dark Carnage said:

USD 2.6 billion deal for 24 MH-60 ‘Romeo’ multi-mission helicopters

 

Just now, Dark Carnage said:

USD 930 million for six AH-64E Apache attack chopper

This should give some idea about the price of AH-64E and MH-60 if we procure them.

[Alim]

I wonder whether pressure from India/US to use common platforms played any role in us being interested in Seahawks and Apaches.

Great machines nonetheless.

[Kamikaze]

India to go ahead with $2.3 billion Turkish shipyard deal

The formal contract was signed days after India issued a strong statement rejecting all references made to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint declaration by Turkey and Pakistan during President Erdogan’s visit to Islamabad last month. The contract was signed by HSL last month after clearances were given by the MoD, said people aware of the matter.

By Manu Pubby

NEW DELHI: India is going ahead with a $2.3 billion (about Rs 15,000 crore) deal to manufacture fleet support vessels (FSVs) in collaboration with a Turkish shipyard following a review after questions were raised on Turkey’s links with Pakistan and the recent diplomatic tiff with the Recep Tayyip Erdogan government.

The formal contract was signed days after India issued a strong statement rejecting all references made to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint declaration by Turkey and Pakistan during President Erdogan’s visit to Islamabad last month.

Turkey’s TAIS had emerged as the lowest bidder for a contract to manufacture five of the 45,000-tonne FSVs at the Vizag-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) last year, but the contract signing was put on hold in October following the repeated raising of Kashmir issue by Erdogan at international forums.

The contract was signed by HSL last month after clearances were given by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), said people aware of the matter. They said the Ministry of External Affairs was also consulted before the decision was taken.

HSL had been keen to resolve the matter at the earliest and had written several letters to the defence ministry over the past few months. “MoD has directed HSL to put the project on temporary hold in view of recent diplomatic developments with Turkey. HSL inputs regarding the legal and financial implications of cancelling the bid of M/s Anadolu shipyard have been submitted to the MoD,” the ministry told the parliamentary standing committee on defence.

The defence ministry’s vigilance department was asked to review the order and gave a go-ahead, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified. Similarly, inputs were received from MEA on diplomatic implications, after which it was decided to proceed with the Turkish collaborator. The contract was signed last month after the defence ministry removed its temporary hold order.

The Indian FSV project was initially given a go-ahead in 2016 after the Navy projected a requirement for ships that could carry fuel and other supplies for warships at sea.

As reported by ET, Turkish shipyards are a major supplier of warships to the Pakistani Navy and concerns had been raised on how access to the strategic HSL by its engineers and workers could result in serious security issues. HSL is located close to the Ship Building Centre, where India’s nuclear armed submarines are built, as well as the Eastern Naval headquarters.

Besides four new corvettes, Turkey has designed a fleet support vessel for Pakistan, supports its submarine fleet and has signed a deal to sell 30 T-129 attack helicopters that have been developed in collaboration with Italian company Finmeccanica (since renamed as Leonardo). In September last year, Erdogan had used the ceremony to launch new corvettes for the Pakistani Navy. Last month, he raised the Kashmir issue again and attempted to draw similarities to the Palestine conflict.

Since then, the Turkish President has visited Pakistan, where he repeatedly raised the Kashmir issue and said that Turkey was on Pakistan’s side over the conflict and that it would support it on the issue of being censored by the Financial Task Force as well. Following Erdogan’s visit in February, India issued a strong statement and on March 3 made a strong demarche with the envoy as well.