Defence ministry to submit mega warship and battle tank projects worth over Rs 1 lakh crore for approval – Firstpost

Amid the ongoing standoff with China, the Ministry of Defence is set to execute major projects including the construction of seven advanced frigates for the Indian Navy and the Indian Army’s proposal to replace its T-72 tanks with modern Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs).

The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is scheduled to be held on Tuesday at South Block and will be attended by senior officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, the three chiefs of the armed forces, the Defence Minister and other relevant officials.

According to defense officials, the Indian Navy’s plan includes the acquisition of seven new warships under Project 17 Bravo. These ships will be the most advanced stealth frigates ever built in India, after the Nilgiri-class frigates currently under construction.

Defence sources said the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is expected to approve floating tenders worth around Rs 70,000 crore to Indian shipyards under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, including private sector shipyards.

The tender is likely to involve Category A shipyards such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited and Larsen & Toubro, among others. In order to expedite the project and avoid delays, the tender is expected to be split between two shipyards, although specific details will only be available after the project is approved.

Currently, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Garden Reach Shipbuilders are building frigates under Project 17A (Nilgiri class), with four frigates being built by MDL and three by GRSE.

The Indian Army’s proposal to replace its Russian T-72 tanks with 1,700 FRCVs will also be discussed during the meeting. The Army plans to replace the T-72s with indigenous FRCVs, which will be built under the Make-1 procedure of the Defence Acquisition Procedure.

Indian suppliers are expected to produce the tanks with more than 60 percent indigenous content. Major companies such as Bharat Forge and Larsen & Toubro are expected to participate in the tender.

The Indian Army wants to complete the FRCV project in phases, with around 600 tanks being built in each phase. In addition, the Army is expected to propose to procure around 100 BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles during the high-level meeting. The total FRCV project is likely to cost over Rs 50,000 crore, aimed at modernizing the armoured regiments of the force.