DAC Approves ₹52,000 Crore Defence Acquisitions for India
India Clears ₹52,000 Crore Defence Purchases as Military Focus Shifts Towards Drones, Air Defence and Surveillance
New Delhi, July 3: India has approved defence purchases worth about ₹52,000 crore as the country moves to strengthen its ability to deal with new battlefield threats, including drones, missile attacks and electronic warfare.
The decisions were taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the country’s highest body for military procurement, during a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on July 3. The council granted Acceptance of Necessity, the first official stage in India’s defence-buying process, allowing the armed forces to move ahead with detailed procurement plans.
The latest approvals cover projects for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force and come at a time when militaries around the world are changing tactics after seeing the growing use of drones and long-range precision weapons in recent conflicts. The Russia-Ukraine war and fighting in West Asia have shown how low-cost unmanned systems can damage expensive military equipment and challenge traditional defences.
For the Indian Army, the largest share of the approvals focuses on protecting troops and military assets from aerial threats and improving the survivability of armoured formations operating near the country’s borders.
Among the systems approved is the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Electronic Warfare System, known as AKASH TARANG. The system is intended to detect, track and neutralise hostile drones that may be used for surveillance, reconnaissance or attacks on troop positions and military bases. Drone activity has become a growing concern for Indian security agencies, particularly along sensitive border areas where small unmanned aircraft have been used for smuggling and intelligence gathering.
The Army will also receive Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems, commonly known as MPATGM. These shoulder-fired missiles are designed for infantry soldiers and are intended to improve the Army’s ability to deal with enemy tanks and armoured vehicles during combat operations. Reports indicate that the proposal includes thousands of missiles along with launchers and training equipment.
Another major decision involves the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile weapon system. The MRSAM is designed to intercept aircraft, helicopters, drones and other aerial targets at medium ranges, giving military formations an additional layer of protection against attacks launched from a distance. India already operates versions of the MRSAM with the Navy and Air Force, developed through cooperation between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Israel Aerospace Industries.
The Defence Acquisition Council also approved Very Short Range Air Defence Systems, or V-SHORADS. These systems are intended to engage low-flying aircraft and drones at shorter ranges and are considered important for frontline troops. According to the Ministry of Defence, the approved system includes multi-spectral sensing technology aimed at reducing the chances of enemy countermeasures affecting performance.
To improve the protection of armoured vehicles, the Army has also received approval for Active Protection Systems for tanks. Such systems use sensors and interceptors to destroy incoming missiles before they strike the vehicle. Similar technologies are already in service with several major military powers and have become increasingly important as anti-tank weapons have grown more accurate and powerful.
Another area receiving attention is the use of unmanned strike systems. The approved Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System is intended to carry out attacks against enemy targets while also supporting electronic warfare operations. Defence planners view loitering munitions as an increasingly important part of modern combat because they can remain over an area before striking a selected target and usually cost much less than traditional missiles.
The Indian Navy’s approvals focus largely on maritime security and future ship technologies.
The Navy will procure Multi-Influence Ground Mines, designed to restrict the movement of hostile naval forces in strategic waters. Such systems can detect changes in magnetic, acoustic or pressure conditions and respond to the movement of enemy vessels.
Approval was also granted for Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems. These drones, operating from warships, are expected to improve surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities during missions in the Indian Ocean Region, where maritime competition has increased in recent years. The Indian Navy has steadily expanded the use of unmanned systems as it seeks better awareness across vast sea areas.
The council further approved the establishment of a Land-Based Testing Facility for Electric Propulsion Systems. The facility will allow engineers to test motors and related equipment before they are installed on naval platforms, reducing technical risks and improving maintenance planning.
For the Indian Air Force, the major approval involves Fixed-Wing High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellites, known as FW-HAPS. These aircraft can operate at very high altitudes for long periods and are expected to support intelligence gathering, surveillance, communications and remote sensing tasks.
Military experts often describe pseudo satellites as a bridge between conventional drones and space-based satellites because they can remain over an area much longer than ordinary aircraft while operating at lower costs than satellites. India had already approved related HAPS projects earlier this year as part of its push to strengthen long-endurance surveillance capabilities.
The latest approvals continue a wider military modernisation programme under which the Defence Acquisition Council has cleared several large projects over the past year. The government has increasingly emphasised domestic production and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers while improving readiness across land, sea and air operations.
Although the latest decisions do not amount to signed contracts, they mark an important step in the procurement process and signal the direction in which India’s armed forces are preparing for future conflicts, where drones, electronic warfare, missile defence and constant surveillance are expected to play a larger role than ever before.