Context: The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister cleared procurement proposals worth ₹13,700 crore including 118 Arjun MK-1A tanks for around ₹8,400 crore.
- The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.
- The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council.
- It was formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on 'Reforming the National Security System', in 2001, post Kargil War in 1999.
Key points:
- Bharat Forge announced that it has received a ₹117.95-crore order from the Defence Ministry under emergency procurement to supply its Kalyani M4 Kalyani M4 armoured vehicles to the Army.
- Other proposals from the DRDO cleared include
- Nag missile carrier Namica
- Arudhra medium power radars
- Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) 125mm practice ammunition.
- All these acquisition proposals will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured.
Arjun MK-1A tanks
- The Mk-1A version has 14 major upgrades on the earlier version.
- It is also supposed to have missile firing capability as per the design.
- The latest version is 54.3 per cent indeginous content against the 41 per cent in the earlier model.
Arjun tanks
- The Arjun Main Battle Tank project was initiated by DRDO in 1972 with the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) as its lead laboratory.
- The objective was to create a “state-of-the-art tank with superior fire power, high mobility, and excellent protection”.
Features of the Arjun tank
- The Arjun tanks have ‘Fin Stabilised Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS)’ ammunition and 120-mm calibre rifled gun.
- It also has a computer-controlled integrated fire control system with stabilised sighting that works in all lighting conditions.
- The secondary weapons include a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun for anti-personnel and a 12.7-mm machine gun for anti-aircraft and ground targets.
Kalyani M4 Blast protection vehicles
- The Kalyani M4 is a multi-role platform, designed for quick mobility in rough terrain and in areas affected by mine and Improved Explosive Devices (IED) threats.
- It offers ballistic and blast protection — up to 50kg TNT side blast or IED, roadside bombs due to its innovative design.
- Bharat Forge and global aerospace and technology company Paramount Group have announced a cooperation agreement to jointly manufacture armoured vehicles in India.
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