The Indian Defence Acquisition Council has approved a $17.3 billion defence equipment purchase, including locally made future-ready combat vehicles FRCVs, radars, aircraft, and patrol vessels, to strengthen national defence.
“For modernisation of the tank fleet, the proposal for procurement of FRCVs has been cleared. It will be a futuristic main battle tank with superior mobility, all terrain ability, multi-layered protection, precision, lethal firepower and real-time situational awareness,” a statement by defence ministry reads.
The Indian Army aims to integrate 1,770 FRCVs, advanced battle tanks, to upgrade its armored corps at an estimated cost of $7.2 million.
The FRCV and other modernization initiatives are part of ongoing efforts to replace
outdated equipment with newer, more capable systems, the Brigadier said.
A significant portion of new equipment falls under India’s negative or positive list, emphasizing indigenous development with potential foreign collaboration based on requirements, he added.
The ongoing border stand-off and growing Pakistan-China ties heighten India's strategic concerns, Sahgal added, noting that “while neighbors like Bangladesh pose no "immediate threat," contingency planning for redeployments is still crucial.”
Amid regional instability, boosting defence is crucial for readiness, he noted, further adding that national security drives these decisions, with strategies influenced by regional factors but guided by national priorities.
The government has announced that 99% of defence acquisitions will be sourced domestically, providing a significant
boost to the Make in India initiative, Khanna mentioned.
With the rupee’s true purchasing power being higher than its exchange rate suggests, spending domestically allows for greater value and improves overall defence capabilities, he affirmed.
In the meantime, the aging T-72 and T-90 tanks require replacement with advanced Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) to address evolving threats and modernize the armoured fleet, Khanna underscored.
The Admiral mentioned that the Indian Navy's wide range of tasks requires diverse ship capabilities, with offshore patrol vessels handling maritime security to let destroyers and frigates focus on combat readiness.
Consequently, the variety of expected tasks requires a range of different ships, he noted.
Similarly, the Brigadier stated that India is expanding its maritime capabilities by launching a second
Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), pursuing nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), and improving cruise missile and ISR capabilities.
These developments are incrementally advanced through the Defence Acquisition Council, which approves projects based on necessity before they enter the implementation phase, Sahgal concluded.