In a significant boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative within the defence sector, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved two major projects totaling approximately Rs 20,000 crore. These projects involve the procurement of 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and 100 K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers for the Indian Army.
The CCS granted approval on Thursday, and the contract for the Su-30 MKI jets has already been finalized, according to defense sources cited by ANI. The 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft will be manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nashik facility, with an estimated cost of around Rs 13,000 crore. These new jets are intended to replace aircraft that have been lost over the years.
Additionally, the Indian Army will acquire 100 K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers, to be produced by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at their Hazira plant in Gujarat. This procurement is a repeat order, as the Army has already inducted 100 of these howitzers. L&T has increased the indigenous content in the howitzers, which have been deployed in both desert regions and along the Chinese front in the Ladakh sector.
These projects are expected to strengthen small and medium enterprises within the supply chains of HAL and L&T, further bolstering India’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
