Defence Ministry okays procurement of military equipment worth Rs 9,100 Cr; negotiations on S-400 'almost complete'

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has approved the procurement of modernised military equipment and weapons worth Rs 9,100 Crore, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The procurement will also include two regiments of an advanced version of Akash Missiles with seeker technology, 360-degree coverage and compact configuration developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited.

The missiles would be the upgraded version of previously inducted Akash Missiles with enhanced technology. The upgraded Akash weapon will be operationally critical and provide protection to the country's vital assets, the ministry said.

Also Read | Is Navjot Singh Sidhu Pakistan's agent? Harsimrat Kaur targets Punjab minister over Kartarpur corridor issue

The DAC has also approved for the progressive design and development of the Individual Under Water Breathing Apparatus (IUWBA) for T90 Tanks.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRD), the IUWBA is used by the crew of the tanks as a safety gear and is required for emergency under-water escape.

Negotiations with Russia on S-400 ‘almost complete’: Nirmala Sitharaman

Addressing a press conference, Sitharaman said that the negotiation with Russia on the S-400 deal had reached almost the final stage and may be signed before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s India visit next month.

Also Read | Modi In Varanasi: PM launches development projects worth Rs 557 crore

“The negotiation with Russia on the S-400 have reached almost the final stage, we'll have to see it if it’s signed before the Russian President’s visit. But the negotiations are almost complete,” the defence minister said.