DAC clears acquisition of 83 Mk1A
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved acquisition of indigenous defence equipment for about Rs.1,300 crore while the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will consider acquisition of 83 more advanced Mk1A aircraft, said the Defence Ministry on 18 Mar 2020.
While orders of 40 Tejas aircraft had been placed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in initial configurations, the DAC has paved the way for procurement of 83 of the more advanced Mk1A version of the aircraft from HAL by finalising the contractual and other issues.
Among others, the proposals were for procurement of Aerial Fuses and Twin-Dome Simulators for Hawk Mk32 aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas indigenously-designed by Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by HAL is going to be the backbone of Indian Air Force in future.
In 2016, the DAC had approved an amendment to the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) to enable review by a Costing Committee of bids submitted by Joint Ventures of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)/Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)/DRDO from whom procurement of Defence items is undertaken on a nomination basis. fiinews.com
