Amid LAC stand-off, India approves purchase of fighter jets, missiles worth Rs 38,900 crore

NEW DELHI: With India prepared for the long haul in the border confrontation with China, the defence ministry on Thursday approved several capital procurement projects worth Rs 38,900 crore. They include 33 new fighter jets, 300 long-range land-attack cruise missiles and 250 air-to-air missiles.

The projects will take at least two to three years, if not more, to translate into actual inductions into the armed forces but they signal the government’s renewed thrust on building military capabilities for the two active borders with China and Pakistan despite budgetary constraints.

The defence acquisitions council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, approved procurement of 21 more MiG-29s and 12 Sukhoi-30 MKIsfrom Russia. The 21 MiG-29s, along with a further upgrade of 59 such jets already with IAF to “ensure similar standards across the fleet”, will cost Rs 7,418 crore.

The 12 additional Sukhois to be licensed produced by defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics, along with upgraded electronic warfare