Defence Ministry clears Rs. 79,000-crore procurement proposals for armed forces

New Delhi, October 23. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on October 23 approved a series of capital acquisition proposals worth nearly Rs. 79,000 crore for the Indian armed forces to bolster their operational capabilities. The meeting was held at South Block in the national capital.

For the Indian Army, the DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of the Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II (NAMIS), Ground Based Mobile ELINT System (GBMES), and High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) with material-handling cranes. The NAMIS (Tracked) will significantly strengthen the Army’s ability to destroy enemy tanks, bunkers, and field fortifications, while the GBMES will enable continuous electronic intelligence gathering on adversary emitters. The HMVs, equipped with cranes, are expected to enhance logistical support across varied and challenging terrains.

The Indian Navy received AoNs for a diverse set of procurements, including Landing Platform Docks (LPDs), 30mm Naval Surface Guns (NSGs), Advanced Lightweight Torpedoes (ALWTs), Electro-Optical Infra-Red Search and Track Systems, and Smart Ammunition for 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mounts. The induction of LPDs will enable the Navy to undertake amphibious operations in coordination with the Army and Air Force, while also supporting peacekeeping, humanitarian, and disaster relief missions. The ALWTs, developed indigenously by the DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, are capable of engaging a wide range of underwater threats, including conventional and midget submarines. The 30mm NSGs will enhance the Navy’s and Coast Guard’s ability to conduct low-intensity maritime and anti-piracy operations.

For the Indian Air Force, the DAC approved the Collaborative Long Range Target Saturation/Destruction System (CLRTS/DS) and other related projects. The CLRTS/DS is designed for autonomous take-off, landing, navigation, target detection, and payload delivery, significantly augmenting the IAF’s long-range precision strike capabilities.

The approvals mark a major step in India’s ongoing efforts to modernise its defence forces and promote indigenous manufacturing under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.