Defence Acquisition Council clears $6.1-bn military modernisation package
By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi, July 3. In a major push to strengthen India’s military capabilities across land, sea and air domains, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on July 3 granted in-principle approval for a series of capital procurement proposals worth about ₹52,000 crore ($6.1 billion) for the three armed services.
The approvals, known as Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), were accorded during a meeting of the DAC chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The package covers a wide range of advanced weapon systems, air defence assets, unmanned platforms and naval technologies aimed at enhancing operational preparedness and addressing emerging battlefield challenges.
For the Indian Army, the council approved the procurement of the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Electronic Warfare System, named Akash Tarang, along with 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-powered kamikaze drone systems.
The Akash Tarang system is expected to provide frontline formations with an effective shield against hostile drones and unmanned aerial threats, a capability that has gained increasing significance in modern conflicts.
The indigenous MPATGM system is intended to boost the infantry’s ability to engage and destroy enemy armoured vehicles and mechanised formations, while the MRSAM system will strengthen medium-range air defence against a broad spectrum of aerial threats, including stand-off weapons.
The V-SHORADS system, equipped with multi-spectral sensing capabilities, is designed to improve resilience against countermeasures and enhance the Army’s close-range air defence network. The Active Protection System will improve the survivability of tanks by detecting and neutralising incoming anti-tank threats before impact.
The DAC also cleared the acquisition of jet-based kamikaze drones, which are expected to provide enhanced electronic warfare capabilities while offering greater lethality, survivability and cost-effectiveness on the battlefield.
For the Indian Navy, the council approved the procurement 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 MIGM capability is intended to restrict an adversary’s freedom of manoeuvre in maritime theatres, while the NSUAS, equipped with advanced sensors, will significantly improve maritime domain awareness and surveillance capabilities.
The proposed testing facility for electric propulsion systems will support the development and validation of motors and associated propulsion technologies intended for future naval platforms and warships.
The DAC also approved the procurement of Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS) and other systems for the Indian Air Force.
Operating in the near-space domain for extended durations, the FW-HAPS platforms are expected to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, while also supporting telecommunications and remote sensing missions for the Air Force.
The latest approvals reflect the government’s continued emphasis on military modernisation and the induction of advanced and indigenous technologies to enhance the combat effectiveness of the armed forces across multiple operational environments.
