New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has cleared a series of major procurement proposals for the armed forces, granting Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquisitions valued at around Rs79,000 crore. The approvals were accorded during the council’s meeting held on Monday.
For the Indian Army, the DAC cleared proposals to induct loitering munitions for artillery units, low-level lightweight radars, long-range guided rocket ammunition for the Pinaka multiple launch rocket system, and the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mk-II. These systems are aimed at strengthening precision strike capabilities, improving detection and tracking of low-flying unmanned aerial systems, extending the reach and accuracy of the Pinaka platform, and enhancing protection of critical assets in both tactical battle areas and hinterland locations, according to an official statement.
In the naval segment, approval was granted for the procurement of bollard pull tugs, high-frequency software-defined radio manpacks, and the leasing of high-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems. The induction of tugs will support safe berthing and manoeuvring of naval vessels and submarines in confined harbour spaces, while the new communication systems are expected to improve secure long-range connectivity during operations. The leased HALE RPAS platforms will significantly boost intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance coverage, strengthening maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Air Force also received approvals for key capability upgrades, including automatic take-off and landing recording systems, Astra Mk-II beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, full mission simulators for the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, and SPICE-1000 long-range precision guidance kits. These inductions are expected to enhance flight safety through advanced recording systems, improve air combat reach with extended-range missiles, strengthen pilot training through high-fidelity simulators, and sharpen precision strike capabilities from standoff distances.
Collectively, the latest AoN approvals reflect a continued focus on modernisation, force protection, and indigenous capability enhancement across the three services.
