Amid Ladakh border standoff, Defence ministry to purchase 21 MiG-29s, 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday approved the proposal for procurement of 21 MiG-29s along with a proposal to upgrade the Indian Air Force’s existing MiG-29 aircraft. In addition, the MoD has also given the green light to the procurement of 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft.
While the MiG-29 procurement and upgradation from Russia is estimated to cost Rs 7418 crores, the Su-30 MKI will be procured from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at an estimated cost of Rs 10,730 crores.
Both proposals for procurement of new aircraft and the third proposal for upgradation among others were approved in the Defence Acquisition Council Meeting held on July 2. In total, proposals amounting to an estimated Rs 38,900 crores were approved during the meeting.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the MoD said, “In the current situation and the need to strengthen the Armed Forces for the Defence of our borders and in line with our Prime Minister’s clarion call for ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ the Defence Acquisition Council in its meeting of 2nd July 2020 held under the Chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh accorded approval for Capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipments required by the Indian Armed Forces. Proposals for an approximate cost of Rs 38900 Cr were approved.”
