New Delhi, Aug. 9: Even as the Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile is “ready for induction into the services”, the government could soon clear a defence deal worth over Rs 20,000 crore for procurement of another 42 Russian-origin Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft that are currently being manufactured under license from Russia by the Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).
The Sukhoi acquisition proposal has been cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council and will soon be taken up for final approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by the Prime Minister. The aircraft will be delivered between 2014 to 2018.
The Agni-III ballistic missile, having a range of 3,000 km and capable of hitting targets in certain regions of China, is now ready for induction into the armed forces.
The government also stated before Parliament that the Army has placed an order for another 124 indigenous upgraded version of the Arjun battle tanks apart from the initial order several years ago for 124 Arjun tanks.
The Arjun tanks have been developed by the DRDO and manufactured at the Heavy Vehicle Factory at Avadi near Chennai.
The government also informed that over 60 Army trainee officers had been “expelled” from their respective academies after receiving injuries during their training.