The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved 10 capital acquisition proposals worth ₹1,44,716 crore, according to the media reports of September 3, 2024. The DAC approval will boost local manufacturing since 99 percent of the ₹1,44,716 crore expenditure is to be from indigenous sources.

The Indian Army's tank fleet will be modernised with Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs), which will feature superior mobility, all-terrain capabilities, multilayered protection, and real-time situational awareness

The 10 capital acquisition proposals, for which the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded, includes the modernising the Indian Army's tank fleet with the Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) featuring advanced mobility and protection. An official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said, "Of the total cost of AoNs, 99 per cent is from indigenous sources under Buy (Indian) and Buy (lndian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) categories." The official statement further said, "The FRCV will be a futuristic Main Battle Tank with superior mobility, all terrain ability, multilayered protections, precision & lethal fires over and real-time situational awareness."

The AoN was also accorded for procurement of Air Defence Fire Control Radars (ADFCRs), which will detect & track aerial target and provide firing solution. MoD statement said, “The proposal has also been approved for Forward Repair Team (Tracked) which has suitable cross country mobility for carrying out in-situ repair during mechanized operations. This equipment is designed and developed by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, and is authorized for both mechanized Infantry Battalion and Armoured Regiment."

The DAC also approved the procurement of Air Defence Fire Control Radars (ADFCRs) to detect and track aerial targets, as well as Forward Repair Teams designed for in-situ repairs during mechanised operations

Three AoNs have been accorded to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The procurement of Dornier-228 aircraft, Next Generation Fast Patrol Vessels having high operational features in rough weather conditions and Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels with advanced technology and enhanced long-range operations, will enhance the capability of ICG to carry out surveillance, patrolling of maritime zone, search & rescue and disaster relief operations.

Prior to approval of the above proposals by the DAC, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on September 2 approved the procurement of new engines for the Su-30 MKI fighter jet deal, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is set to get a ₹26,000 crore contract to manufacture them at its Koraput plant. The AL-31FP engines are to be delivered over an eight year period and would have an indigenous content of over 54 per cent. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led CCS has cleared an order for 240 of these that will replace older engines that are coming to the end of their service life.

Three AoNs were granted to boost the Indian Coast Guard's capabilities, including the procurement of Dornier-228 aircraft, Next Generation Fast Patrol Vessels, and Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels

Interestingly, in 1975, the government appointed the K.V. Krishna Rao Committee, headed by Lt General (later General) K.V. Krishna Rao to undertake a long-term perspective plan for the Army till 2000. The Committee was mandated to evaluate national security threats, propose a strategy against it, visualise the future battlefield, determine the size of the Army and suggest an incremental build-up of forces. The report followed-up on the limited mechanisation of the army that had begun in 1969 with the induction of TOPAS and SKOT armoured personnel carriers. As a result of the recommendations of this report, the Army's Mechanised Infantry Regiment, equipped with the BMP-1 was raised in April 1979. By 1988, over 23 Mechanised Infantry Regiments were raised and equipped with the BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs).

Concurrently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been developing 'Abhay', as an indigenous ICV programme. By 2004, various stages of the vehicle were in the advanced stages of development. M Natarajan, then Director General of DRDO had reportedly stated in 2004, "The Abhay is under development. We see it as the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) for the Army. It will be a replacement for the Russian made BMPs that the Army has. It should be ready in two years."

By 2005, the first prototype of Abhay was integrated and tested with indigenous components and the second one was either completed or undergoing testing. By 2008, the Abhay programme was officially declared successfully completed by DRDO in the Ministry of Defence Annual Report of 2007–2008.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the procurement of new engines for the Su-30 MKI fighter jet, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) awarded a ₹26,000 crore contract to manufacture them

As of January 14, 2024, DRDO has worked with Larsen and Tourbo (L&T) to develop and test the Zorawar' Light Tank, the first batch of which was to be delivered to the Army in April 2024. The Zorawar tank uses some of the systems developed on the Abhay, such as the Integrated Fire Suppression System (IFSS). Also, Tata Advanced Systems and the DRDO have jointly produced the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), also called TATA 'Kestrel', which was first unveiled during Defexpo 2014 in Delhi. WhAP is 8x8 amphibious ICV that has performed well in high-altitude trials. WhAP development was taken up to provide common platform for wheeled APC, ICV with 30mm cannon, Light Tank with 105mm main gun, command post vehicle, ambulance, special purpose platform, 120mm mortar carrier and CBRN Vehicle.

According to news reports of June 17, 2024, India and the US are in an advanced stage of talks for joint manufacture of the Stryker infantry combat vehicles (ICVs), with the project envisaged in three-phases:

• limited off-the-shelf purchase of Stryker ICVS under America's foreign military sales (FMS) programme;
• joint production in India, and;
• co-development of futuristic armoured versions of Stryker ICV.

The report said that while the MoD is examining the US proposal, the US has offered to demonstrate the mobility and firepower of the eight-wheeled Stryker ICV in high altitude terrain.

Finally, the FICVs and the ADFRs will provide a big boost in enhancing the combat capabilities of the Indian Army. The AoN is only the first step in the procurement process. The requirement now is to follow up speedily.