The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday cleared capital acquisition proposals worth over ₹1.10 lakh crore for the Indian Armed Forces.
The approvals cover a range of equipment and systems for the Army, Navy and Air Force aimed at strengthening operational capabilities and modernising the forces.
For the Indian Army, the DAC approved proposals for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs), Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers (MMLs), Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System.
For the Indian Navy, Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded for the procurement of Arudhra radars and for the design, development and subsequent procurement of Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs). The Arudhra radars will replace existing Air Route Surveillance Radars at various Naval Air Stations, while the indigenous development of MGTs, used for warship propulsion, is expected to reduce dependence on foreign vendors.
The Indian Air Force also received approval for several proposals aimed at enhancing the war-fighting capabilities of its fighter aircraft, transport aircraft and helicopters. The DAC further approved the procurement of Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers (GBMPJs) and the installation of the Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) system.
According to the Defence Ministry, 98 per cent of the total procurement is expected to be sourced from Indian industry, giving a major boost to domestic defence manufacturing.
The CBRN reconnaissance vehicles will be equipped to detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated by CBRN agents. The HMVs will improve logistics, mobility and operational capabilities in challenging terrains, while the MMLs will provide faster and more responsive mine-laying capabilities.
The ALHs will be used to undertake complex missions across different terrains and operational situations. Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System will enable fighting formations to establish composite crossings during operations across varied terrain.
The GBMPJ system is intended to provide effective jamming against adversary radars, while the DEFSAC system will replace existing paper-based identity cards, passes and permits with interoperable RFID-based smart cards.
