Representational image | Photo Credit: PTI

Key Highlights Services Capital Acquisition Plan Categorization Higher Committee cleared the purchase of 1500 carbines, 1100 rifles, 400 parachutes, 100 sniper rifles The total cost of the acquisition is likely to be about Rs 850 crore

New Delhi: The best deserve the best. Or, that is at least what the Indian Army may be thinking as it begins an effort to ensure that its special forces battalions — para-commandos, mostly — get world-class weapons. A high-level committee has just cleared the purchase of new weapons for the Special Forces, whether it is rifles, carbines, light and heavy machine guns, even parachutes and special helmets.

The weapons will be what the special forces of the United States armed forces use; they will be purchased through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route and is expected by the year-end. The total cost is likely to be about Rs 850 crore.

The decision cleared by the defence ministry's Services Capital Acquisition Plan Categorization Higher Committee (SCAPHCC), headed by a top-level army officer earlier this week has cleared the purchase of 1,500 carbines, 1,100 rifles, 400 parachutes, 100 sniper rifles, 750 light machine-guns and also, technical equipment that will enhance the capability of the special forces soldier.

They include silencers for the rifles/carbines that will muffle the sound of the shot being fired, telescopic sights (to be used during the day and different ones for use after dark), helmets that will have night vision goggles, heavy machine-guns and of course, necessary ammunition.

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The special forces teams have been particularly active; they were responsible, along with some infantrymen for the surgical strikes that were carried out in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) after the Uri terror attacks. They have also been used in the North-east and very often when there are terror attacks.

They are some of the fittest and best-trained officers and men and now, they will get the best possible weapons. The high-quality weapons could make a lot of difference in a critical, high-risk mission.