In a major boost to India’s military modernisation and combat preparedness, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Monday cleared defence acquisition proposals worth ₹79,000 crore for the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during which the DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for a wide range of indigenous and capability-enhancing systems, including loiter munitions, advanced anti-drone technologies, precision rockets, missiles, aircraft simulators, and maritime surveillance assets.
Indian Army: Precision Strike & Anti-Drone Shield
For the Indian Army, the DAC approved procurement of:
- Loiter Munition Systems for artillery regiments to enable precision strikes against tactical and time-sensitive targets.
- Low Level Light Weight Radars to detect and track small, low-flying unmanned aerial systems.
- Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for the Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System, significantly improving range and accuracy.
- Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System (IDD&IS) Mk-II, with enhanced range to protect vital military installations and assets in both tactical battle areas and hinterland regions.
According to the Defence Ministry, these inductions will greatly strengthen battlefield awareness, precision firepower, and protection against emerging drone threats.
Indian Navy: Maritime Mobility & ISR Boost
For the Indian Navy, AoN was granted for:
- Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs to assist naval ships and submarines during berthing, unberthing, and manoeuvring in confined harbour waters.
- High Frequency Software Defined Radios (HF SDR) – Manpack, enhancing secure long-range communications during boarding and landing operations.
- Leasing of High Altitude Long Range (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) to ensure persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness across the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian Air Force: Missiles, Simulators & Precision Strike
For the Indian Air Force, the DAC approved procurement of:
- Automatic Take-Off and Landing Recording Systems, providing high-definition, all-weather recording to enhance aerospace safety.
- Astra Mk-II air-to-air missiles with extended range, enabling fighters to neutralise adversary aircraft from long standoff distances.
- Full Mission Simulators for the Tejas, improving pilot training in a cost-effective and safe environment.
- SPICE-1000 Long-Range Guidance Kits, significantly boosting the IAF’s precision strike capability.
Strategic Significance
The ₹79,000-crore clearance reflects the government’s continued push towards indigenisation, rapid capability enhancement, and readiness for modern warfare, especially in domains such as drones, precision-guided munitions, networked communications, and long-range surveillance.
Defence officials said the approvals will accelerate procurement timelines and ensure the Armed Forces remain prepared to meet evolving security challenges across land, sea, air, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
