more-inAfter years of deliberations, the Army has finalised a mega ₹15,000-crore project under which a range of ammunition for its critical weapons and tanks will be produced indigenously to overcome long delays in imports and address the problem of a dwindling stockpile. Official sources said 11 private firms would be involved in the ambitious project, the implementation of which is being monitored by the top brass of the Army and the Defence Ministry. Stocking upThe immediate aim of the project — said to be the biggest ever initiative for the indigenisation of ammunition — is to create an inventory for all major weapons to enable the forces to fight a 30-day war while the long-term objective is to cut dependence on imports. “The overall cost of the project has been pegged at ₹15,000 crore and we have set a specific target for the next 10 years in terms of the volume of ammunition to be produced,” a senior government official involved in the project said, refusing to elaborate. The sources indicated the broad contours of the project were discussed at a conference of the Army’s top commanders here last month.

Source: The Hindu May 13, 2018 17:15 UTC