The Indian Army approved Project Sanction Orders (PSOs) of five Make II projects. These projects will give the necessary impetus to “Atma Nirbharata”. The Army is focussing on the infusion of niche technologies through indigenous development.
The Make-II Projects are Industry funded projects. Notably, they will involve design, development and innovative solutions by Indian vendors for the development of prototypes. As per the Ministry of Defence, an assurance of order is given after successful prototype development.
Following are projects whose PSOs have been approved by the Indian Army:
High Frequency Man Packed Software Designed Radio (HFSDR): Project Sanction Order (PSO) for the development of a prototype of Frequency Man Packed Software Designed Radio (HFSDR) under the Make II scheme has been issued to 14 Developing Agencies (DAs). A total of 300 HFSDRs are planned to be procured by the Indian Army, on the successful development of the prototype. It will provide long-distance radio communication through enhanced data capability and bandwidth coupled with enhanced security. Blue force tracking with map-based navigation using GIS will also be facilitated by HFSDR.
Drone Kill System: The Indian Army has approved a Project Sanction Order (PSO) to 18 Developing Agencies (DAs) for procurement of 35 sets of Drone Kill Systems under the Make II scheme, post successful development of Prototype. The approval was given as part of efforts to further encourage the indigenous anti-drone ecosystem. “The project is reserved for MSMEs/Start-ups. Drone Kill System is a hard kill anti-drone system against low Radio Cross Section (RCS) Drone/ unmanned Aerial System (UAS), being developed to function in all types of terrains, both during day and night.,” the ministry said in a statement.
Infantry Training Weapon Simulator (IWTS): Project Sanction Order (PSO) has been issued to four Developing Agencies (DAs) to develop the prototype for subsequent procurement of 125 sets of IWTS under the Make II procedure. It is the first tri service Make II project with the Indian Army as the lead service. This project is reserved for MSMEs/ Start ups. IWTS is a modern training aid, which will reduce recurrent expenditures on live ammunition, besides obviating the challenges of availability of firing ranges and inclement weather, the ministry said.
155mm Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM): Project Sanction Order has been issued to six Developing Agencies (DAs) for the development of 155 mm Terminally Guided Munition (TGM) under the Make II scheme. Variants of ammunition were held in the inventory of the IA, sans, the precision strike capability. The IA, therefore, plans to procure approximately 2000 rounds of 155mm TGM against High-Value Targets with assured Precision and Lethality for mission accomplishment and minimum collateral damage.
Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS): Project Sanction Order has been issued to 15 Developing Agencies (DAs) for developing a prototype of MRPKS under the Make-II category of DAP 2020. The ministry stated, “Post successful development of this prototype, the IA will procure 10 Sets of MRPKS. The Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS), once launched can ‘Loiter’ in the air for up to two hours and can acquire, designate and engage real-time high-value targets up to 40 km. In times to come, we see our country transforming as “AtmaNirbhaar” in Loitering Munition Technology.”
Notably, the force is already working on 43 projects under the Make II procedure of Capital Acquisition. Seventeen of these projects have been initiated through suo-moto proposals received from the industry. Meanwhile, 22 of these projects are now in the prototype development stage.
