The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday granted in-principle approval to capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹2.12 lakh crore for the armed forces.
Around 82 per cent of the proposed procurement will be from Indian industry, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The council accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), an in-principle administrative approval, to the proposals.
For the Army, the approvals cover High Mobility Vehicles, Self-Propelled Tracked Gun Systems, Gun Shot Response Systems, Light Multi Role Helicopters, Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems and platform-based counter-drone systems.
The council also cleared proposals for Unmanned Aerial System Brick Long Range, surveillance UAVs, Integrated Surveillance and Strike Systems and Long Range Kamikaze Drone Systems.
The High Mobility Vehicles will improve operational mobility and logistics support in challenging terrain, while the tracked gun systems will provide mobility and firepower to mechanised formations. Gun Shot Response Systems will strengthen real-time situational awareness.
Light Multi Role Helicopters will serve both the Army and the Air Force in reconnaissance, surveillance, combat, troop search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
The Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems will engage new-generation small aerial threats, while platform-based counter-drone systems will improve tank survivability. The surveillance and drone systems will strengthen the Army’s surveillance and targeting capabilities.
For the Navy, the DAC approved the procurement of Active Offboard Decoy Systems and other major naval platforms. The decoy systems will strengthen defence against modern anti-ship missiles, while the indigenously designed and constructed platforms will enhance naval combat capabilities.
For the Air Force, approvals include helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar Systems.
Special Utility Helicopters will meet air transport requirements, while the weather radar systems will provide high-resolution, localised weather surveillance in forward areas, the Ministry said.
