Defence Acquisition Projects Worth ₹1.10 Lakh Crore Cleared
India Defence Acquisition: The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Acceptance of Necessity for capital-acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore.
The approvals cover the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
About 98% of the procurement value is planned to come from Indian industry.
What Does Acceptance of Necessity Mean?
Acceptance of Necessity, or AoN, is an in-principle administrative approval within India's defence procurement process.
It does not necessarily mean every contract has already been signed.
Indian Army Acquisitions
The Army proposals include procurement of:
- CBRN reconnaissance vehicles
- High Mobility Vehicles
- Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers
- Advanced Light Helicopters
- Trawl Tanks
- Sarvatra Bridge System
CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicles
These vehicles will be used for detecting, identifying, monitoring and marking areas contaminated by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents.
High Mobility Vehicles
HMVs are intended to strengthen:
- Operational mobility
- Logistics
- Movement in challenging terrain
Mechanical Mine Layers
The self-propelled mine-laying systems are intended to improve fast and responsive minelaying capability in difficult terrain.
Navy Gets Radar and Gas Turbine Projects
For the Indian Navy, the DAC cleared proposals for:
- Arudhra Radars
- Design, development and subsequent procurement of Marine Gas Turbines
The radars will replace existing Air Route Surveillance Radars at naval air stations.
Indigenous Marine Gas Turbine
The proposed Marine Gas Turbine development is strategically important because gas turbines are major propulsion systems for warships.
Domestic development is intended to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
Air Force Proposals
The Air Force received approvals intended to strengthen the war-fighting capability of:
- Fighter aircraft
- Transport aircraft
- Helicopters
Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammer
The DAC also cleared procurement of a Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammer designed to provide jamming capability against adversary radars.
Defence Forces Secure Access Card
The DEFSAC system will replace paper-based identity cards, passes and permits with interoperable RFID-based smart cards.
98% From Indian Industry
The Ministry of Defence says approximately 98% of the total procurement value covered by these AoNs is intended to be sourced from Indian industry.
This supports India's broader goal of increasing indigenous defence manufacturing.
Official Link
Ministry of Defence:
https://mod.gov.in/
PIB:
https://www.pib.gov.in/
FAQs
How much procurement was cleared?
Approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore.
Who chaired the DAC meeting?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
How much will come from Indian industry?
Approximately 98% of procurement under the approved proposals.
Is this the final contract award?
No. AoN is an in-principle procurement approval, not necessarily a completed purchase contract.
Conclusion
The ₹1.10 lakh crore DAC package combines military modernisation with a major domestic-manufacturing push, covering mobility, helicopters, electronic warfare, radar, naval propulsion and battlefield engineering systems.
