Army to get over one million hand grenades

india

Updated: Mar 21, 2019 00:19 IST

The defence ministry has cleared an army proposal for buying over 1 million hand grenades that will be made in India, two officials said on the condition of anonymity.

The project was given the green light by the defence acquisition council on Wednesday to boost the capabilities of the infantry.

Projects that have been recently cleared under the fast-track procedure include those for buying assault rifles and light machine guns.

One of the officials cited above said the ministry has also given its go-ahead to new policy guidelines for the selection of domestic shipyards to undertake major naval programmes.

Tenders worth Rs 25,000 crore are likely to be awarded to different yards in the next one to two years, he said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force will induct four US-built Boeing CH-47F (I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters at a ceremony in Chandigarh on March 25, an Indian Air Force spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Boeing’s Chinook edged out Russian firm Rostvertol’s Mi-26 helicopters to win the $1.18 billion deal for 15 choppers. India placed the order in September 2015.

The US-built Boeing Chinooks will fill a crucial gap in the Indian Air Force’s heavy-lift capabilities as it currently operates a solitary Soviet-origin Mi-26 chopper to deliver payloads to high altitudes, officials said.

The Chinook’s main roles include transporting troops, artillery and battlefield resupply.

Boeing CH-47F (I) Chinook can carry 55 troops or 10 tonnes of freight.