Latest Defence Deals of India
India is a peace-loving country. Since ancient times, we have believed in peace. The world has always looked at the East, especially India, for spiritual growth and finding more profound meanings of life. However, still, we have to be capable enough to protect ourselves from our neighboring countries like Pakistan and China. Due to its geographical position, India was not involved in many large-scale wars that have happened in history until the Portuguese discovered a sea route. However, there are some references to pre-Portuguese sea-trade routes.
Why Does India Need a Strong Defense System?
To date, invasive wars did not touch India while there was a large-scale exodus in the Middle East and other parts of the world. This is why many complementary cultures evolved in the sub-continent as India was protected by seas and oceans from three sides and the mighty Himalayas from one side. However, the equation has changed in the modern world.
In modern days India is involved in many wars, and most of them are with its neighbors. But, India has come a long way. Indian Army is now the world's largest standing army with a strength of about 1.4 million military personnel. Not only that, India is now the world's largest importer of defense-related products. It spends billions of dollars on this.
List of 10 Latest Defense Deals of India:
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India-Made Israeli Tavor X 95 Rifles
The Tavor X 95 rifles were first imported from the Israel Weapons Industry (IWI), but now these guns are being made in India.
A Deal Worth 48,000 Crore Rupees With Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
On 3rd February, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was awarded a ₹48,000 crore contract to supply 83 Tejas fighters (Light Combat Aircraft Mk-1A jets) from the Indian Air Force. According to the defense deal, India will have the first Tejas LCA delivered in 3years and the rest within 2030. Out of these 83 new aircraft, 73 are Mk-1a fighter jets, and 10 are LCA Mk-1 trainer aircraft. This is one of the latest defence purchases by India the nation can be proud of.
₹1000 Crore Deal With Bharat Electronics for Modern Radio Systems
On 8th February, the Indian Ministry of defense signed a contract with Bharat electronics for Software-defined Radio tactical (SDR-Tac). This is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organization's (DRDO), Weapons and Electronics systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Centre for Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics (CAIR), and the Indian Navy. The radio system itself is a four-channel multi-mode, multi-band, M19 rack-mountable, and ship-borne design.
Fleet Vessel Ship Agreement
India gave the nod to the 2.3 billion dollar deal with Turkey in February 2020. This deal could have been finalized much earlier. Still, several questions have been raised on Turkey’s link with Pakistan and a recent diplomatic issue with the Tayyip Erdogan-led government as it is a significant security concern for India. However, the circumstances have been reviewed, and India has nodded to the defense deal. Under this agreement, the Turkish company manufactures five 45,000 toned massive fleet vessel ships at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam.
The 2.6 Billion Dollar MH-60 Romeo Helicopters Deal:
In February 2020, during president trump's visit to India, India and the United States sealed a contract. The dialogues for this contract have been happening since 2018. According to the agreement, the Indian Navy is to procure 24 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters. The 2.6 billion dollar deal between India and the U.S. not only includes 24 helicopters, but it also provides communication systems, weapons systems, eight anti- surface Hellfire missiles, M.K. 54 Lightweight Torpedoes, 50 cannons, and precision rocket systems.
The MH-60R helicopters are designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky aircraft, from which the name of the helicopter, Sikorsky (MH-60R), comes. India will procure these via a government-to-government route. As per the contract, the delivery of these beasts should start in 2021. The reports by the Ministry of Defence suggest the helicopters inducted onboard Delhi and Kolkata class destroyers and 15B destroyers.
India-Israel Defence Pact (800 Crore Latest Defense Purchase by India)
India has signed a ₹800 crore deal with Israel weapons Industries to procure 16,479 gas operated Negev 7.62x51 mm light machine guns. These weapons will multiply the destructive power and range of a soldier. These guns are used as squad automatic weapons.
If we look at the history of LMGs(Light Machine Guns), it was first used in World War II and was modernized and introduced by Israel Weapon Industries in 2012. Basic specification of the LMG: It is 7.95 kg without the magazine and other mountable accessories. Its length is 1100 mm(non-retracted), 1030 mm(retracted). It can fire up to 600 rounds in semi-automatic mode and 750 in the fully automatic mode.
Air Force One Deal with the U.S. (A 190 Million Dollar Defense Deal of India):
During President Trump's visit to India in February 2020, The Indian government has signed a 190 million dollar deal with the U.S. government to procure two self-protection suites (SPS). These suits will be retrofitted on the two Boeing-777 aircraft. It was acquired for VVIP travel. Technical specifications of the aircraft: It will have two wide-bodied B-777s, fully integrated advanced missile approach warning sensors, infra-red countermeasures, defensive electronic warfare system, digital radio frequency jammer, and other such facilities under the SPS.
After Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, A demand for a secure aircraft has increased. This new upgrade will be similar to the U.S. Air force One-level spacecraft. The Prime Minister and President can travel with extra security with this new upgrade.
India-US Guardian Drone Deal (A 2-3 Billion DollarIndianDefence Deal):
General Atomics, an American Advanced technology solutions company based in San Diego, manufactures Guardian drones for governments. The Indian and U.S. governments signed a 2-3 billion Dollar Defence deal for the Guardian drones. It is one of the biggest Indian defence deals latest. As per the deal, India procures 22 predator Guardian drones.
It can be used for wide-area, long-endurance maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance(ISR) missions. It has a fly time of 27 hours and can fly at 50,000 feet.
India's Defence deals with Armenia(A 40 million Dollar Indian Defence Deal):
On 1st March 2020, India signed a $40 million deal with Armenia. The deal was to supply SWATHI weapons locating RADARs. The RADARs are developed by Defence Research and Development Organization(DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Biotech Limited(BEL). It is a strategic win for India as Armenia conducted several RADAR systems offered by Russia and Poland. Still, It accepted the offer by India's SWATHI weapon locating RADAR System. India's RADAR system provides faster, automatic, and accurate location of enemy weapons like 81mm or higher caliber mortars, 120mm or higher calibre rockets in 50 km range, and 105mm or higher calibre shells at a reasonable budget. This also opened doors for India to the defense equipment market. India can offer its Weapon systems to small countries to gain trust and establish strategic relationships with different countries. This is a part of India’s Make in India Campaign.
India Defence Deal with Russia:
India and Russia have signed the historic 14 MoUs(memorandums of understanding) during DefExpo 2020. This sets the Indian Defence deals latest with Russia to a massive 16 billion Dollar. This shows the strategic relationships between two of the most prominent countries. The MoU consists of land, air, and naval defense system development and hi-tech civilian products. Russia says it is committed to the contract and promises to provide the said defense systems within the timeframe on a priority basis. This also includes the supply of s-400 air defense systems, Kalashnikov rifles, and Kamov helicopters. Further development includes Russian state-run Organization Rosoboronexport signed a deal with DRDO for advanced pyro-technique ignition systems, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for exports of spares and services to their allies BHEL(Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) for land systems.
The above list of 10 latest defence deals of India, provides a clear idea about the future defence deals of India.
FAQs on Defence Deals
1. What are the latest defence purchases by India?
India-Russia air-to-air Missiles Deal was a 1500 crore rupees deal with Russia to procure R-27 air-to-air missiles. It is to be mounted on the Su-30MKI combat aircraft.
India-US Defence deal of Naval Guns, India has signed an agreement of 1 billion Dollars with the U.S. to procure 13 MK45 Naval Guns and related equipment. This is also very special because India is one of the few nations that is granted to procure the Mod 4, Latest Naval Guns. The other countries are Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, developed by DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced systems
Project 75I Submarines from Indian shipyards and five foreign submarine manufacturers are among the significant upcoming defence deals of India.
AK 203 Rifle, India has signed a deal with Russia, but the production has not started yet.
2. What is the defence budget of India in the current year?
India has the 4th largest army globally, and the Indian army deals with some of the most challenging situations sometimes. To make it stronger, India's defence deals with other countries to get advanced weapons. In 2020-2021, the defense budget was 4.71 lakh crore rupees, which increased to 4.78 lakh crore in 2021-22. Due to a recent stand-off at the Eastern Ladakh border, an additional 20,776 crores was spent. India has made some of the historic defense deals in recent years. India is also trying to manufacture its made-in-India defense products.
