Centre Clears Acquisition Of BrahMos Missiles To Equip Indian Navy’s Stealth Frigates, ARV’s For Arjun Tanks

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given its nod to procure BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for two stealth frigates of the Indian Navy, reports The Hindustan Times.

The DAC has also validated the procurement of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) for Arjun, the main battle tank of the Indian Army. Defence public sector undertaking BEML will manufacture ARVs, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), an official was quoted by HT as saying.

"The indigenously designed BrahMos missile is a tested and proven supersonic cruise missile and will form the primary weapon on-board these ships,” said the official.

Reports had earlier suggested that India would be procuring two stealth frigates at the cost of $1 billion, and both the ships will be equipped with indigenously developed BrahMos missiles.

Earlier this month, India and Russia inked a $500 million contract to build two stealth frigates in Goa. The ships are expected to be delivered by 2027.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is the ministry’s highest decision-making body on procurement.