Bharat Electronics’ LICEWS order cleared

Ministry of Defence has approved the procurement of P-8I Training Solution and Low Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare System (LICEWS).

Costing Rs.2419.32 crore, these contract proposals were approved by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The P-8I Training Solution, along with 10-year comprehensive maintenance service, will be brought from Boeing for Rs.1,949.32 crore.

The training solution accurately simulates P-8I aircraft and mission systems. It will help Indian Navy train and realistically rehearse for sophisticated missions involving P-8I aircraft, at a fraction of the cost of live aircraft training.

The first P-8I aircraft was inducted in Indian Navy in 2013 and as of date, eight aircraft, based at INS Rajali, have been fully integrated into Indian Naval operations.

In 2016, the Ministry placed a follow-on order for four additional P-8I, the delivery of which will begin in 2020.

The P-8I aircraft is equipped for long range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of broad area, maritime and littoral operations.

Its communication and sensor suite include indigenous equipment developed by defence PSUs and private manufacturers.

The aircraft is capable of thrusting a punitive response and maintaining a watch over India’s immediate and extended areas of interest.

The second proposal cleared for Rs.470 crore was for procurement of LICEWS from Bharat Electronics Limited.

This system will equip Indian Army with upgraded communications infrastructure to effectively deal with advanced communications systems being used by terrorist groups, according to a note from Press Information Bureau on 4 Jan 2018. fii-news.com