On Thursday, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved two important projects worth around Rs 20,000 crore. These include the purchase of 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets for the Indian Air Force and 100 K-9 Vajra Self-propelled howitzers for the Indian Army. This is a significant achievement for the "Make in India" initiative in the defence sector.

The two projects were approved by the CCS, and the Su-30-MKI jet contract has already been signed, according to news agency ANI. The Ministry of Defence has announced that a contract has been signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the purchase of 12 Su-30MKI aircraft, along with related equipment, at a total cost of around Rs 13,500 crore, including taxes and duties. These aircraft will have 62.6% of their components made in India, thanks to the increased use of locally manufactured parts by the Indian defence industry.

"These aircraft would be manufactured at Nasik division of HAL." "The supply of these aircraft would enhance the operational capability of the Indian Air Force and strengthen the defence preparedness of the country," said the statement from the Ministry of Defence. As for the order for 100 K-9 self-propelled howitzers to be manufactured by Larsen and Toubro at Hazira in Gujarat, news agency ANI reports that it would be a repeat order since the Indian Army had originally introduced these weapons to meet its needs in the plains and desert sector, but the force has since successfully employed them in the Ladakh sector. 

The gun weighs 50 tonnes and can fire 47 kg bombs at targets located 43 kilometres away. It can also rotate completely in a very small space, with zero turning radius. In 2017, L&T secured a Rs 4,500 crore contract from the Ministry of Defence to provide 100 units of the K9 Vajra-T, a 155 mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled gun system, to the Indian Army under the 'Make in India' initiative.