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New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has granted initial approval to military procurement proposals estimated at Rs 1.10 lakh crore, covering new equipment and capability upgrades for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to the proposals at its meeting on Monday. The Ministry of Defence said approximately 98 percent of the approved acquisitions would be sourced from Indian industry.
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The high domestic procurement share could translate into a substantial order pipeline for Indian defence public sector undertakings and private manufacturers. However, the ministry did not disclose the quantities, individual project costs, procurement categories or likely vendors.
An AoN is the first formal administrative clearance in the defence procurement process. It establishes the need for the equipment and allows the acquisition to move forward, but does not constitute the award of a contract. The proposals will have to pass through subsequent stages, including tendering, technical evaluation, commercial negotiations and final approval.
The Army-related proposals cover Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear recce vehicles, high-mobility vehicles, self-propelled mechanical mine layers, advanced light helicopters, trawl tanks and Sarvatra bridge systems.
CBRN reconnaissance vehicles are intended to detect, identify and monitor areas contaminated by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents. The platforms can also mark affected zones, enabling troops to operate with greater awareness in contaminated environments.
High-mobility vehicles will be used to improve the movement of personnel, equipment and supplies in difficult terrain, while self-propelled mechanical mine layers will strengthen the Army’s ability to rapidly lay minefields during operations.
The advanced light helicopters are proposed for both the Army and Air Force. The ministry said the helicopters would be capable of carrying out complex missions across varied terrain and operational conditions.
Trawl tanks are designed to clear paths through minefields, while the Sarvatra system enables the rapid construction of mobile bridges. Together, the two systems are expected to help combat formations cross minefields, canals, streams and other obstacles during military operations.
“The trawl tanks and bridge system will be utilised to provide composite crossings to fighting formations during operations in varied terrains,” the ministry said.
For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the proposed acquisition of Arudhra radars and the design, development and subsequent procurement of marine gas turbines.
The Arudhra systems will replace existing air-route surveillance radars deployed at various naval air stations, improving the Navy’s ability to monitor aircraft movements and the surrounding airspace.
Marine gas turbines form a critical part of the propulsion systems used by several classes of warships. The indigenous design and development proposal is intended to reduce India’s dependence on overseas suppliers for these engines and their associated technologies.
The project’s eventual impact on import dependence will depend on the successful completion of development, testing and production. The ministry did not specify the development timeline or the number of turbines proposed for procurement.
The Air Force received approval for multiple proposals aimed at improving the combat capabilities of its fighter aircraft, transport fleet and helicopters.
Among the systems cleared is a Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammer, which is intended to detect and disrupt hostile radar operations. The ministry said the system would provide effective jamming against adversary radars, strengthening the Air Force’s electronic warfare capability.
The DAC also approved the installation of a Defence Forces Secure Access Card system. The ministry did not provide further details about its scope, cost or deployment schedule.
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The overall clearance is one of the larger defence acquisition packages approved in recent months and reflects the government’s continuing emphasis on domestic military manufacturing. Contemporary reports also confirmed that the approvals span the three armed services.
The eventual value of contracts awarded may differ from the Rs 1.10 lakh crore estimate following price discovery and commercial negotiations. The pace of induction will also depend on tendering, trials, production capacity and the ability of domestic suppliers to meet delivery schedules.
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