DAC Clears Rs.52,000 Crore Defence Procurement Plan to Boost Combat Readiness

India: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs.52,000 crore aimed at significantly enhancing the combat preparedness of the Indian Armed Forces.

The council granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the government’s in-principle approval for defence procurement, for a wide range of advanced weapon systems and military technologies for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of the AKASH TARANG Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Electronic Warfare System, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) weapon systems, Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS), Active Protection Systems for tanks, and Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone Systems.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the AKASH TARANG system will strengthen the Army’s capability to counter hostile drones, while the MPATGM will enhance the infantry’s ability to neutralise mechanised threats. The MRSAM system is designed to provide medium-range air defence against a variety of stand-off aerial threats. The V-SHORADS, equipped with multi-spectral sensing technology, is expected to improve resilience against countermeasures and enhance air defence effectiveness. The Active Protection System will increase the survivability of tanks by improving their defensive capabilities, while the Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System will provide enhanced electronic warfare capabilities with greater lethality, survivability and cost-effectiveness.

For the Indian Navy, the council approved the acquisition of Multi Influence Ground Mines (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS), and the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion Systems. The Ministry said the MIGM will restrict the adversary’s freedom of manoeuvre at sea, while the NSUAS, equipped with advanced sensors, will improve maritime surveillance and situational awareness. The LBTF will support testing requirements for electric motors and propulsion systems used in naval platforms.

The Indian Air Force received approval for the procurement of Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS), along with other proposals. The FW-HAPS platform is intended to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities, significantly strengthening the Air Force’s operational reach.

The latest approvals reflect India’s continued emphasis on modernising its armed forces through the induction of advanced indigenous and high-technology defence systems to address evolving security challenges.