Indian Navy Poised to Finalise 15 MQ-9B Drones, 21 Rafale-M and 3 Scorpene Subs Deals Within This Year

In a significant push to modernize and enhance its capabilities, the Indian Navy is on track to conclude three major defence deals within the current financial year. These contracts encompass the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B drones, 3 additional Scorpene submarines, and 26 Rafale-M fighter aircraft, reflecting the Navy's commitment to bolstering its surveillance and combat prowess.

The government has demonstrated its full support for the Navy's modernization drive by allocating a record-high capital budget of Rs 61,000 crore this year. This financial backing underscores the urgency of equipping the Navy to meet the challenges of a dynamic security environment.

The first project slated for completion is the procurement of MQ-9B drones, equipped with advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The American proposal for these drones remains valid until October 31st, and the project is expected to be finalized before this deadline. The Navy will receive 15 of these drones, with the remaining eight allocated to the Army and Air Force.

Progress is also being made on the deal for three additional Scorpene submarines, to be built in collaboration with the French Naval Group and India's Mazagaon Dockyards Limited (MDL). MDL has submitted revised bids for the project, estimated to cost around Rs 40,000 crores. These submarines will boast enhanced capabilities compared to their predecessors and will feature an indigenous combat management system.

The third project on the horizon is the purchase of 26 Rafale-M marine fighter jets for the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier. Two rounds of negotiations have already taken place, and India has recently waived the requirement for integrating the Uttam radar on the aircraft, streamlining the procurement process. The deal is being structured similarly to the previous acquisition of 36 Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force, with the agreed rate of inflation factored into the price for this Rs 50,000 crore contract.

These strategic acquisitions underscore the Indian Navy's focus on enhancing its capabilities in both surveillance and underwater warfare, positioning it to effectively safeguard India's maritime interests in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

 

[Invincible Indian]

Meanwhile IAF still looking for MRFA 2.0 tender to restart & fill the depleting squardons 🙄

 

[Anant]

Some issue with the figures here. The total defence budget this year is around Rs. 6.22 lakh crore. The Navy gets around 15% of the defence budget, which comes to around Rs. 93,300 crore. Of that, surely the capital acquisition budget cannot be Rs. 61,000 crore (~65.6%)?

It is far more likely that the Rs. 61,000 figure includes the money alloted for maintenance and operations as well, with the actual capital acquisition budget being considerably lower.

That said, it is always nice to see the Navy forging ahead.

 

[Satya Dev]

Good, but I feel IN should've put it's foot down to demand budget for atleast 2 SSNs. Given that the Chinese Navy has plans to send long-range patrols to the Indian Ocean and has already equipped Pakistan with 8 Yuan-class SSKs & Bangladesh with 2 Ming-class, India needs to build deterrence against these principal adversaries and counter them. A Chinese Song class submarine participated in a naval exercise with Pakistan last year with the submarine practising bottoming at Karachi harbour as part of an attack demonstration to the Pakistan Navy.

 

[Akshat]

Good, but I feel IN should've put it's foot down to demand budget for atleast 2 SSNs. Given that the Chinese Navy has plans to send long-range patrols to the Indian Ocean and has already equipped Pakistan with 8 Yuan-class SSKs & Bangladesh with 2 Ming-class, India needs to build deterrence against these principal adversaries and counter them. A Chinese Song class submarine participated in a naval exercise with Pakistan last year with the submarine practising bottoming at Karachi harbour as part of an attack demonstration to the Pakistan Navy.

To counter submarines, you don’t need submarines of your own. What you need are ASW systems. And that is what IN is focusing upon.

 

[Akshat]

Meanwhile IAF still looking for MRFA 2.0 tender to restart & fill the depleting squardons 🙄

What can the poor IAF do? They have given their choice to MoD many times. HAL always destroys everything. It won’t make anything and won’t let IAF buy anything.

 

[Kira]

A big crucial deal I think that is very relevant for the IN seems to be additional P-8I,I believe at least they should order 8 more such birds.

 

[Sandeep]

Good, but I feel IN should've put it's foot down to demand budget for atleast 2 SSNs. Given that the Chinese Navy has plans to send long-range patrols to the Indian Ocean and has already equipped Pakistan with 8 Yuan-class SSKs & Bangladesh with 2 Ming-class, India needs to build deterrence against these principal adversaries and counter them. A Chinese Song class submarine participated in a naval exercise with Pakistan last year with the submarine practising bottoming at Karachi harbour as part of an attack demonstration to the Pakistan Navy.

Also the submarines and naval ships sold to Pakistan have major problems with their engines, weapons and technology. Pakistan have clearly mentioned that so with our ASW capabilities we can easily match whatever they have.

 

[Sandeep]

These are critical strategic projects so these deals will be passed this year as we can’t afford anymore delays. The navy needs all three of them as it will still take a number of years before we even receive them.

 

[Rajesh]

Integration of indian weapons by ourselves like what we do with su30 should be agreed upon esp if we intend to purchase rafale m. Scorpene will anyways have our combat management system so we can integrate our weapons followed by rest of the 6 scorpene when the goes for refits.