Indigenous weapons for defence soon

Embracing the government’s call for Atmanirbharbharat, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to withdraw the Request for Proposals (RfPs) of two critical programmes — the US$ 3 billion Propelled Air Defence Gun Missile System (SPAD-GMS) deal and the long-delayed Fast Track Procurement of Close Quarter Carbines.

“Two critical programmes which have been getting delayed for various reasons are expected to be closed and these will now be made locally in an effort to ensure that the Indian Armed Forces’ dependency on imports is cut down. At the end of the meeting, it has been decided that the focus will be on `Atmanirbharbharat’ and announcement to this effect will be made soon,” said a source familiar with the development.

The SPAD-GMS is a replacement to 1360 obsolete Bofors L 70 40mm single barrel and Soviet-era ZU-23-2 towed 23 mm twin-barrel weapon systems of the Indian Army. The specifications laid down in the RfP have so far remained unfulfilled by companies from Russia and South Korea.