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'Formidable arsenal': Indian Armed Forces likely to launch five weapon platforms in 2021

The Indian Armed Forces are now planning to introduce several weapon channels to face hostile China in the Line of Actual Control and the Indian Ocean.

Five weapon platforms that are likely to be launched are:

  1. MH60R

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 01: MH-60R Seahawk of Australian Naval Forces performs during AVALON 2019 - the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition in Geelong, Australia on March 01, 2019. (Photo by Recep Sakar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 01: MH-60R Seahawk of Australian Naval Forces performs during AVALON 2019 - the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition in Geelong, Australia on March 01, 2019. (Photo by Recep Sakar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The Indian Navy will replace the outdated Sea King anti-submarine helicopters introduced in the MH-60s and 80s. AGM-114 Hellfire Naval Missile Kongsberg Naval Strike air-to-surface rockets with proven anti-ship skimming capabilities and MK54 Raytheon will be fitted with Indian Navy MH- 60s.

Moreover, the laser-guided rockets can also be used to reliably and minimally damage the MH-60R Sea Hawk.

  1. P15B Destroyers

An Indian worker watches as INS Visakhapatnam, the first Indian Navy P15-B stealth destroyer, is launched in Mumbai on April 20, 2015. The indigenously-designed ships air defence capability is designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles, and will revolve around a vertical launch and long-range surface-to-air missile system. The vessel is expected to be commissioned into the India Navy in 2018.  AFP PHOTO/ Indranil MUKHERJEE        (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)

The first 15B project frigate, INS Visakhapatnam, undergoes sea testing, and this leading destroyer is expected to complete marine testing by the end of 2021. The warship will then enter the Indian Navy service at Mazagon Dock.

Though INS Mormugao and INS Imphal were launched in 2016 and 2019, INS Porbandar is ongoing. All three frigates are scheduled to be in service by early 2025.

  1. INS Arighat

INS Arighat, India's second nuclear missile submarine, is set to join the Indian Nuclear Triad sea leg this year in the latest episode of its marine testing.

In November 2017, Nirmala Sitharaman launched a nuclear submarine to transport 12 K-15 or four K-4 nuclear warheads proposed by the then Minister of Defense. Whereas the K-15 is almost 750 kilometres long, the K-4 is supposed to hit a target of 3,500 km.

  1. Light Combat Helicopter

ZANKA, HUNGARY - 2020/08/27: The MI-24D combat helicopter displayed at the museum. The Zánka Military Museum is an outdoor display containing a variety of armoury used by the Hungarian defence forces. Zánka is a village in Veszprém County situated on the shores of Lake Balaton, 150 kms south west of the capital, Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Indian Air Force is expected to enter into a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for an indigenous Light Fighting Helicopter this year. In anticipation of the agreement, HAL has already begun producing five new aircraft to be ready by the end of the year 2020. According to HAL chairman R Madhavan, the first 15 will be shipped almost immediately. It will take six months for delivery.

  1. S-400

BENGALURU, INDIA - FEBRUARY 20, 2019: Models of components of the S-400 Triumph air defence missile system (left: 91N6E radar system; centre: SP8STE3 launcher; right: multifunctional 92N6E radar) on display at the Almaz-Antey Corporation stand at the 12th edition of Aero India Show, Aero India 2019, at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru (Bangalore), Karnataka, India. Marina Lystseva/TASS (Photo by Marina Lystseva\TASS via Getty Images)

This year, the S-400 Triumf missile defence systems built in Russia will be supplied. In 2018, India signed a $5.4 billion agreement with Russia to provide five Indian Air Force S-400 units.

China already initiated the missile defence initiative, signing agreements with Russia in 2015.

Four different missiles with a range of 400 km, 250 km, 120 km, and 40 km can be designed for the S-400 missile defence system. Plus, it can detect enemy positions up to 600 kilometres long-range radar.