New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- India on Monday approved defence procurement proposals worth approximately Rs 2.12 lakh crore, covering helicopters, air defence systems, long-range kamikaze drones, surveillance equipment and naval platforms, in a major push to strengthen the operational capabilities of its armed forces.
The approvals were granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the Defence Ministry's highest decision-making body for military procurement, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The council accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), an in-principle approval for capital acquisitions, to a range of proposals across the Army, Navy and Air Force.
About 82 per cent of the approved procurements are expected to be sourced from Indian industry, the ministry said, supporting domestic defence manufacturing.
For the Indian Army, the approved acquisitions include high mobility vehicles, self-propelled tracked gun systems, gun shot response systems, light multi-role helicopters (LMRH), very short-range air defence systems (VSHORADS) and counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).
The Army will also acquire other unmanned aerial systems, surveillance aerial vehicles, an integrated surveillance and strike system, and long-range kamikaze drones.
The ministry said high mobility vehicles would improve troop movement, logistics and operations in difficult terrain, while tracked gun systems would provide mechanised formations with greater mobility and firepower. Gun shot response systems are intended to deliver real-time battlefield information to improve situational awareness.
The light multi-role helicopters will serve both the Army and the Indian Air Force in missions including reconnaissance, surveillance, combat, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. VSHORADS will counter emerging threats from small aerial targets, while counter-drone systems will improve the survivability of tanks against unmanned aerial threats.
For the Indian Navy, the council approved an active offboard decoy system (AODS), alongside other major naval platforms. The ministry said the decoy system would strengthen anti-missile defence, particularly against modern anti-ship missiles. The indigenously designed and constructed naval platforms are expected to provide contemporary warfare capabilities and improve the service's combat strength.
The Indian Air Force will receive helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and mobile X-band Doppler weather radar systems under the approved proposals.
According to the ministry, special utility helicopters will help meet the Air Force's air transport requirements. The weather radars will provide high-resolution, localised surveillance of weather conditions in forward areas, supporting operations in challenging environments.
The latest approvals form part of India's broader effort to modernise its military capabilities while expanding the role of domestic manufacturers in meeting defence requirements. However, the AoN approvals represent an initial stage in the acquisition process and do not, by themselves, mean that contracts have been signed or deliveries are imminent.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.