Article Posted on : - Oct 18, 2012

BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile. A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): As the army faces ammunition shortage for its tank regiments, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is expected to consider a proposal of Defence Ministry to procure over 20,000 of Invar missiles from Russia for T-90 tanks at an estimated cost of around Rs 2,000 crore.

The meeting on Thursday is also expected to discuss the procurement of air-launched version of the 290-km-range BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missiles for the IAF, sources said.

Under the Army proposal, 10,000 Invar missiles would be brought from Russian manufacturers whereas the remaining would be license-produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) under Transfer of Technology (ToT), they said.

In a letter to the Prime Minister in March, former Army Chief Gen V K Singh had pointed out that only 3-4 days of tank ammunition was left with some of the units while highlighting the shortages faced by his force.

Invar is weapon fired from the gun barrel of T-90, over 1,600 of which would be inducted into the Indian armed forces in the next few years.

The proposal to buy BRAHMOS missiles for the IAF involves sanctioning of funds for the integration and testing of the BRAHMOS missile on Russian-origin Su-30MKI of the IAF, sources said.

As per the plans, the first test of the air-launched version of the supersonic cruise missile, developed jointly by India and Russia, is to be conducted by December-end.

Two Su-30MKI of the IAF would be modified indigenously by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nasik facility where they will also be integrated with the aerial launcher developed by the BrahMos, they said.

The BRAHMOS missiles integrated on the Su-30s will help the IAF achieve the capability to deliver a deadly blow to enemy formations from stand-off ranges of around 300km without getting close to them.