The Ministry of Defence has published the year end review for 2023 on December 22. Amidst the approximately 25,000 words report culling the capabilities achieved by the Indian Armed Forces assumes significance.
Here is a listing of operational capabilities achieved by the three services – the Army, Navy and the Air Force in terms of acquisitions and infrastructure as given below. The list is primarily of inductions which commencing the cycle of familirisation and operational integration. In addition the services have undertaken a number of Emergency procurements which have not been listed here
Indian Army
Artillery - Procurement of 155mm/52 Caliber ATAGS, along with High Mobility & Gun Towing Vehicles, for the Indian Army were also approved.
Infrastructure: 118 infrastructure projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have been inaugurated by the Defence Minister during the year considerably enhancing mobility in the border areas.
Air Defence – Two regiments of Improved Akash Weapon System. Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited, worth over Rs 8,160 crore, for procurement of improved Akash Weapon System (AWS) for Indian Army.
EW – commenced raising of additional EW Battalions.
Indian Navy
Initial Operational Clearance of Indigenous Carrier, INS Vikrant: Successful maiden landing of LCA (Navy) and MIG-29K aircraft was achieved onboard INS Vikrant as part of Aviation Integration trials on 06 Feb 23. INS Vikrant completed Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) on May 31, 2023. With the IOC, the ship has proven the Aviation Facilities Complex, achieved day and night landing of MiG-29K, completed landing trials of all helicopters in the Naval inventory.
Submarines. INS Vagir, fifth Submarine of Kalvari class, was commissioned on January 23, 2023 by the Chief of the Naval Staff. Ministry of Defence signed a contract for Medium Refit with Life Certification of Sub-Surface Killer Class of Submarine ‘INS Shankush’ with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders for delivery in 2026.
INS Imphal [to be] commissioned on 26 December 2023.
Sandhayak (Yard 3025) the first of the four Survey Vessel (Large) ships was delivered to Indian Navy by M/s GRSE on December 04, 2023. The ship would be commissioned in January 2024.
Coast Guard
Two Dornier Aircraft for Indian Coast Guard along with associated Engineering Support package
Indian Air Force
Combat Fighter Squadrons –Two Squadrons of MiG 21 fighters reconstituted with Su 30 MKI and LCA Mk 1A [ On induction] .
Operational Airfields: Barrackpore and Bagdogra airfields in West Bengal were operatonalised in September considerably enhancing the potential for use of combat aircraft in the Eastern Sector of the India China border including Doklam and Siliguri Corridor..
Air Defence- Five Firing Units and one training centre of MRSAM system have been commissioned in IAF in this year. System has been successfully deployed. Akash Missile System: Three squadrons of Akash missile system, employing advanced Rajendra Mk-II radars has been commissioned in the last one year. Additional Akash Sqns are likely to be inducted by Dec 23.
AEW &C - Pre-owned Airbus A-321 were acquired by DRDO from Air India for AEW&C role.
HERON MKII: Heron Mk II RPA has been inducted and operationalised in Indian Air Force. The system is capable of undertaking SATCOM based operations along with advanced sensors and avionics suite. The payload is more capable and can locate targets in depth in enemy territory. The induction has boosted the IAF’s capability to undertake ISR missions beyond Line of sight ranges at higher altitude of operations.
Transport - The first C-295 Transport aircraft was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh through a collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain. Ministry of Defence signed a contract for procurement of six Dornier-228 aircraft for the Indian Air Force from HAL at a cost of Rs 667 crore.
Note – The list is under review based on additional inputs being obtained.