Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cleared capital acquisition proposals of DRDO’s NAG missile system (NAMIS) for Indian Army and 127 mm calibre guns for Indian Navy.
- The capital acquisition proposals were cleared at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- DAC is Defence Ministry’s highest decision-making body on procurement.
Keys facts
- The DAC approved procurement of thirteen 127 mm calibre guns for the Navy from BAE Systems of the United States at a cost of over Rs 3,000 crore.
- The NAG missile system, indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will be procured for the Army at a cost of Rs 524 crore.
- The system includes a third generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) along with the missile carrier vehicle (NAMICA).
- The NAG missile has top attack capabilities that can effectively engage and destroy enemy tanks during day and night.
- It will give a quantum boost to the Army's capability against enemy armour.
- The Indian army is currently using second generation Milan 2T and Konkur ATGMs and has been looking for about 8000 third generation ATGMs, which are important for stopping advancing enemy tanks.
- The thirteen 127 mm calibre guns for the Navy will be fitted on board the newly constructed ships and will enable naval vessels to provide fire support.
- These guns have engagement range of 24 kilometres, which could be extended further by using Extended Range Gun Munitions (ERGM).
- The DAC also reviewed the progress of the DRDO programme to develop indigenous Airborne Warning and Control System.
