India to spend $522M on missiles, air defense and naval weapons

NEW DELHI — India’s top arms buyer on Tuesday approved a budget of 42.76 billion rupees (U.S. $522.17 million) to acquire weapons solely from domestic companies.

The approved projects are for Helina anti-tank guided missiles; very short-range air defense systems for the Army; and the Brahmos missile launcher and a fire control system for Navy ships.

A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council on Jan. 10, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted a so-called acceptance of necessity for three capital acquisition proposals, the Ministry of Defence said. The announcement did not provide quantities nor costs for each program, and the ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The purchase of the weapons systems will fall under the Buy Indian IDDM procurement category. According to the ministry, this category requires the procurement of arms from an Indian vendor that were indigenously designed, developed and manufactured while containing at least 50% locally made technology.

An acceptance of necessity in India is essentially fiscal approval that paves the way for tenders, which lead to the purchase of new arms and related equipment.

The Halina missiles, launchers and associated support equipment are to be integrated into advanced light helicopters. The Helina is a third-generation fire-and-forget system with a 7-kilometer (4-mile) range. The state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation develops the system, which can engage targets via direct- or top-attack mode. The launcher can operate in all weather conditions during the day and night, while the missiles are used to defeat battle tanks with conventional and explosive reactive armor.

The state-run firm Bharat Dynamics Ltd. produces the land-attack version of the missile, called Nag , through technology transfer from DRDO.

DRDO said Bharat Dynamics will serve as the production agency for Helina anti-tank guided missiles. Work on the weapons began about a decade ago, and they will likely be delivered in 2026.

Rajiv Chib, a partner at Insighteon Consulting, said each Helina missile is expected to cost 10 million rupees, with an initial requirement for about 500 missiles. “However, DRDO needs to ensure that the missile comes out with a warhead-penetration capability of 1,100-1,300 millimeters of armor,” Chib added.

India also plans to buy an unspecified number of DRDO-developed very short-range air defense weapons featuring infrared-homing missile systems that can shoot down aerial targets at a range of up to 7 kilometers.

“In view of the recent developments along the Northern borders there is a need to focus on effective air defence weapon systems which are man-portable and can be deployed quickly in rugged terrain and maritime domain,” the ministry said, likely referring to clashes with Chinese forces .

Indian soldiers are positioned with Bofors guns at Penga Teng Tso, near the Line of Actual Control neighboring China on Oct. 20, 2021. (Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images)

A member of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, a local trade association, said it will take at least eight years for the Army to induct the VSHORAD system because the technology is not yet fully developed nor has it been proved operationally fit. The individual requested anonymity from Defense News in order to speak candidly.

One DRDO scientist said the organization selected two private companies — Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Ltd. and ICOMM Tele Ltd. — as development production partners for the VSHORAD program. The scientist spoke on the condition of anonymity, as he was not authorize to speak to the press.

The new budget approval will also see the acquisition of locally built launcher systems and fire control systems for the ship-mounted Brahmos cruise missiles meant to equip Shivalik-class frigates and next-generation missile vessels .

A BrahMos missile is displayed at a parade rehearsal in New Delhi, India, on Jan. 23, 2009. (Gurinder Osan/AP)

The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers member noted that state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. builds Shivalik-class frigates, and state-run Cochin Shipyard Ltd. is the production agency for next-generation missile vessels.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt last month informed Parliament that the government has granted acceptance of necessity to 163 proposals worth 2.46 trillion rupees that would promote domestic manufacturing.

Over the last four years, Bhatt added, the government has reduced its foreign defense procurement spending from 46% to 36%.

Vivek Raghuvanshi is the India correspondent for Defense News.

新德里——印度最大的武器买家周二批准了一项427.6亿卢比（5.2217亿美元）的预算，用于仅从国内公司采购武器。

获批的项目包括：赫利纳反坦克导弹；陆军超短程防空系统；以及海军舰艇的布拉莫斯导弹发射器和火控系统。

国防部表示，1月10日，由国防部长拉杰纳特·辛格主持的国防采购委员会会议批准了三项基本装备采购提案，并认定其必要性得到认可。公告并未提供各项目的具体数量和成本，国防部也未回应置评请求。

此次武器系统的采购将属于“购买印度制造IDDM”采购类别。据国防部称，该类别要求从印度供应商处采购武器，这些武器必须是自主设计、研发和制造的，并且至少包含50%的本土技术。

在印度，对必要性的认可本质上是财政批准，为招标铺平了道路，从而可以购买新的武器和相关设备。

“哈利娜”导弹、发射装置及相关配套设备将集成到先进轻型直升机上。“哈利娜”是一款第三代发射后不管的导弹系统，射程为7公里（4英里）。该系统由国营的国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）研发，可采用直接攻击或顶部攻击模式打击目标。发射装置可在全天候条件下昼夜作业，导弹则用于摧毁配备常规装甲和爆炸反应装甲的主战坦克。

国营企业 Bharat Dynamics Ltd. 通过从 DRDO 获得技术转让，生产名为 Nag 的陆攻型导弹。

印度国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）表示，巴拉特动力公司将负责生产“海琳娜”（Helina）反坦克导弹。该导弹的研发工作始于大约十年前，预计将于2026年交付。

Insighteon咨询公司合伙人拉吉夫·奇布表示，每枚“海琳娜”导弹预计造价1000万卢比，初期需求量约为500枚。“然而，印度国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）需要确保该导弹的弹头能够穿透1100至1300毫米厚的装甲，”奇布补充道。

印度还计划购买数量不详的由印度国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）开发的超短程防空武器，这些武器配备红外制导导弹系统，可在7公里范围内击落空中目标。

“鉴于北部边境最近发生的事件，有必要重点发展便携式防空武器系统，以便在崎岖地形和海上快速部署，”国防部表示，这很可能是指与中国军队的冲突。

2021年10月20日，印度士兵在靠近中印实际控制线的彭加腾湖部署博福斯火炮。（图片来源：Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images）

印度国防制造商协会（一家当地行业协会）的一名成员表示，陆军至少需要八年时间才能列装超近程防空系统（VSHORAD），因为这项技术尚未完全成熟，也未经过实战验证。该成员要求匿名接受《防务新闻》采访，以便畅所欲言。

印度国防研究与发展组织（DRDO）的一位科学家表示，该组织已选定两家私营公司——阿达尼防务系统与技术有限公司（Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Ltd.）和ICOMM电信有限公司（ICOMM Tele Ltd.）——作为超近程防空导弹（VSHORAD）项目的研发生产合作伙伴。这位科学家要求匿名，因为他未被授权接受媒体采访。

新预算批准还将采购本地制造的发射系统和火控系统，用于装备希瓦利克级护卫舰和下一代导弹舰艇的舰载布拉莫斯巡航导弹。

2009年1月23日，在印度新德里举行的阅兵彩排中，一枚布拉莫斯导弹亮相。（Gurinder Osan/AP）

印度国防制造商协会成员指出，国营的马扎冈船坞有限公司建造希瓦利克级护卫舰，而国营的科钦造船厂有限公司是下一代导弹舰艇的生产机构。

国防部国务部长阿贾伊·巴特上个月向议会通报，政府已批准163项提案，总价值2.46万亿卢比，这些提案将促进国内制造业的发展。

巴特补充说，过去四年里，政府已将其对外国防采购支出从 46% 减少到 36%。

Vivek Raghuvanshi 是《国防新闻》的印度通讯员。