The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a fresh round of capital acquisition proposals worth around ₹79,000 crore to significantly enhance the capability, preparedness and modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces.
Key Approvals
For Indian Army
Several proposals cleared by the DAC are aimed at giving the Army greater firepower, situational awareness and counter-drone capability in modern conflict environments.
Key approvals include:
- Loiter Munition Systems for precision strikes on high-value targets at extended ranges.
- Low Level Lightweight Radars, designed to detect low-flying aerial threats including UAVs and drones.
- Long-Range Guided Rockets for the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket System, improving range, accuracy and destructive capability.
- Integrated Drone Detection and Interception System (Mk-II) to protect sensitive forward locations and vital assets from drone intrusions.
These inductions are expected to strengthen India’s lethality and tactical effectiveness in high-intensity and hybrid warfare scenarios.
For Indian Navy
The DAC has also approved platforms that will enhance fleet support, maritime logistics, and long-range surveillance capability of the Indian Navy.
Approved systems include:
- Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs to support berthing and handling of larger naval vessels.
- High-Frequency Software Defined Radios (HF-SDR) for secure long-range naval communication.
- Lease of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems for maritime domain awareness and persistent surveillance across vast ocean regions.
These acquisitions will contribute to strengthening India’s naval operations, especially in the Indian Ocean Region, where surveillance and strategic monitoring play a key role in national security.
For Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force will gain both operational and training upgrades through the approved projects.
The DAC has cleared:
- Astra Mk-II Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air Missiles, extending the IAF’s aerial engagement envelope.
- SPICE-1000 Precision Guided Weapon Kits, enabling long-range, high-accuracy strike capability.
- Full Mission Simulator for LCA Tejas, supporting advanced, mission-realistic pilot training.
- Automatic Take-off and Landing Recording System for improved flight safety, monitoring and analysis.
Together, these approvals strengthen the IAF’s air combat readiness, pilot preparedness and long-range strike potential.
Push for Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
A major highlight of the acquisition approvals is the continued emphasis on:
- Domestic design & development
- Local manufacturing
- Technology absorption within India
The majority of the projects are expected to be sourced from Indian defence industry partners, including private sector defence firms and DPSUs. This aligns with the government’s broader vision of building India as a self-reliant and globally competitive defence manufacturing hub.
