New Delhi: The Army, Air Force and Coast Guard are set for major acquisitions that will strengthen India’s military capability and firepower.
In a major move, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday approved procurement proposals worth Rs 2.38 lakh crore (around $25 billion).
Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was granted for a wide range of acquisitions across the Armed forces at a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
“Chaired the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting today in which Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded to various proposals worth an estimated cost of about Rs 2.38 lakh crore. The decisions taken in the DAC will help in further strengthening India’s defence preparedness,” Rajnath said in a post on X.
“For the Indian Army, approval was accorded for the Air Defence Tracked System, Armoured Piercing Tank Ammunition, High Capacity Radio Relay, Dhanush Gun System and Runway Independent Aerial Surveillance System,” Rajnath added.
The DAC cleared several key systems such as Air Defence Tracked System, designed to provide real-time air defence control and reporting, and High Capacity Radio Relay systems to ensure reliable and secure communication.
The approvals also include Armoured Piercing Tank Ammunition to boost anti-tank lethality, Dhanush Gun System to enhance long-range artillery strike capability with improved accuracy, and the Runway Independent Aerial Surveillance System for better intelligence and monitoring support in varied terrains.
There will be major upgrades in the Air Force, with approvals for Medium Transport Aircraft, which will replace the ageing AN-32 and IL-76 fleets for strategic and tactical airlift requirements.
Procurement of Russian S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system, aimed at countering advanced aerial threats targeting critical assets, was also cleared.
Also, Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft have been approved to strengthen offensive capabilities.
The Su-30 aero engine aggregates will be overhauled, which will extend aircraft service life and ensure sustained operational readiness.
As for Indian Coast Guard, DAC approved Heavy Duty Air Cushion Vehicles, which will support high-speed coastal patrolling, search and rescue missions, reconnaissance, and logistics operations, enhancing maritime security and rapid response capabilities.
