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సైన్స్ మరియు టెక్నాలజీGS3
GS3

Indian Army Procurement of Indigenous Loiter Munition Systems

Source:PIB ↗

ఇది ఎందుకు ముఖ్యం

Modern warfare is increasingly defined by asymmetric assets like loitering munitions (kamikaze drones). This contract signifies India's commitment to reducing defence import dependencies, indigenising critical tactical technologies under 'Buy (Indian)', and integrating drone technology into the operational framework of Artillery Regiments to tackle contemporary security challenges.

సారాంశం

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed contracts worth Rs 1,577 crore with TATA Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited to procure indigenous Loiter Munition Systems, munitions, and accessories for the Indian Army's Artillery Regiments. Procured under the 'Buy (Indian)' category using the Fast Track Procedure, this acquisition aims to boost domestic defence manufacturing capabilities and align with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative in defence technology.

ముఖ్య అంశాలు

  • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth approximately Rs 1,577 crore for the procurement of Loiter Munition Systems, munitions, and accessories for the Indian Army.
  • The contracts were signed with domestic private entities, TATA Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited, in New Delhi.
  • The Loiter Munition Systems are aimed at enhancing the capability of the Artillery Regiments and strengthening the operational effectiveness of the Indian Army.
  • The procurement is being carried out under the 'Buy (Indian)' category through the Fast Track Procedure, bolstering indigenous manufacturing and aligning with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision in the defence sector.

ముఖ్యమైన పదాలు

Aatmanirbhar Bharat

A government initiative aimed at making India self-reliant across various sectors, including defence, by promoting indigenous research, design, and manufacturing to reduce import dependency and build domestic industrial capabilities.

UPSC context

GS Paper 3 (Indigenisation of Technology). Tests knowledge of self-reliance policies and domestic defence manufacturing.

Source
Buy (Indian) category

A capital acquisition category under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) that prioritizes procurement from Indian vendors. It mandates that the equipment must be manufactured in India with a minimum of 50% indigenous content.

UPSC context

GS Paper 3 (Defence Procurement). Tests understanding of the Defence Acquisition Procedure and indigenisation thresholds.

Source
Fast Track Procedure

An accelerated procurement mechanism within India's defence acquisition framework. It allows the armed forces to bypass standard, time-consuming procurement routes to rapidly acquire critical equipment required to meet urgent operational necessities.

UPSC context

GS Paper 3 (Security Challenges). Evaluates awareness of emergency defense procurement mechanisms for immediate security needs.

Source

ప్రిలిమ్స్ ఉచ్చు

Loiter munitions function exactly like cruise missiles and cannot abort missions or be recovered once launched.

Loiter munitions can hover passively, dynamically search for targets, abort attacks mid-flight, and some models can be safely recovered and reused.

అనుసంధానమైన స్థిర భావనలు

Defence Procurement and DAP

What is the priority hierarchy and indigenous content (IC) requirement under DAP 2020?

  • Buy (Indian-IDDM): Topmost priority category requiring domestic design, development, and a minimum of 50% IC.
  • Buy (Indian): Requires minimum 50% IC (if designed indigenously) or 60% IC (if foreign designed but built in India).
  • Buy & Make (Indian): Involves acquiring from foreign OEMs followed by licensed domestic production with at least 50% IC.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Loitering Munitions

How do loitering munitions differ from cruise missiles and standard UAVs?

  • Integrated Warhead: Unlike reconnaissance UAVs that drop separate payloads, loitering munitions are expendable, integrated-warhead kamikaze platforms.
  • Hovering Capability: Unlike cruise missiles that follow a direct flight path, they can hover over an area to dynamically acquire targets.
  • Mission Abort: Operators can abort a strike mid-flight and, in some systems, safely retrieve and reuse the asset.

అంతర-అంశ నమూనాలు

  • Private-sector integration in national defense

    Shifting strategic procurement to private players like Tata and NIBE aligns defense indigenization with broader industrial manufacturing and private capital integration.

  • Asymmetric drone warfare on borders

    Utilizing cheap, expendable loitering systems changes tactical dynamics at the LAC, offsetting traditional heavy artillery vulnerabilities in high-altitude terrains.

DAP 2020 procurement thresholds (IC%) paired with the operational physics of loiter munitions vs cruise missiles likely in 2026.

అనుసంధాన PYQలు · 3

అనుసంధాన PYQలు · 3

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  • 2025PrelimsGS1

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  • 2023MainsGS3

    The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders to ferry arms/ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat.