March 2020

Rosoboronexport and UralVagonZavod (UVZ), both part of Rostec State Corporation, have first demonstrated the combat capabilities of the 155mm Msta-S self-propelled howitzer. The demonstration of the self-propelled gun system to Middle Eastern customers took place at the Nizhny Tagil Institute of Metal Testing’s (NTIIM’s) Staratel Proving Ground.

There is good news on the S-400 front for India. A top Russian official in an interview has said that Russia will complete the delivery S-400 by 2024.

“The delivery of the first regiment set is scheduled before the end of 2021. We plan to deliver all systems before the end of 2024,” said Dmitry Shugayev, of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), in an interview with Russian news agency Interfax.

One of the contenders in the Indian Navy’s requirement for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vehicle (MCMV) Russia believes that it will emerge winner, said a top Russian official.

In an interview with Russian news agency Interfax, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugayev, on Monday, said that Russia is waiting for the tender and will pitch its most modern anti-mine vessel Alexandrit-E.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today unveiled the draft Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2020 that aims at further increasing indigenous manufacturing and reducing timelines for procurement of defence equipment.

These and several other such innovative measures were part the Draft finalized by a high-level committee headed by DG Acquisition, Ministry of Defence that was set up in August 2019.

Boost to ‘Make in India’

The Defence Acquisition Council, on Wednesday, accorded approval for acquisition of indigenous Defence equipment for about Rs 1,300 crore. The proposals were for procurement of Aerial Fuses and Twin-Dome Simulators for Hawk Mk32 aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

In its first meeting post “separation of duties between Department of Defence (DoD) and Department of Military Affairs (DMA)”, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on Wednesday, approved the purchase of LCA-Mk 1A for Indian Air Force (IAF), said an official statement.