Indian MoD Issues $1.5 Billion Tender to Acquire 61 Close-in Weapon Systems

Indian defense ministry has issued more than $1.5 billion tender for acquiring 61 Close in Weapon Systems (CIWS) from domestic manufacturers under the Make in India program.

The tender was issued by the acquisition wing of the defence ministry and the 61 CIWS air defence systems would be used to replace the Russian-origin systems, including the L-70 and Zu-23 air defence guns, India Today reported Wednesday.

"The tender cost would be more than Rs 10,000 crore ($1.57 billion) and prominent indigenous defence firms including Tata Power SED, Punj Lloyd, L&T, Mahindra Defence, Bharat Electronics Limited and the Ordnance Factory Board," the news website reported quoting unnamed government sources as saying.

Under the programme, the Indian companies will have to tie up with foreign manufacturers, who will help them build the weapon systems under the 'buy and make' clause of the defence acquisition procedure.

Under the project, the Air Force aims to induct homemade CIWS units within the next seven years and will integrate the systems with air command-and-control systems that perform air traffic and surveillance management functions.