The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday cleared capital procurement proposals worth about ₹79,000 crore, aimed at significantly strengthening the combat and surveillance capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The approvals were granted under the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) category and cover a wide spectrum of modern weapon systems, platforms and support equipment intended to enhance precision strike, situational awareness, communication and training across the three services.
For the Army, the DAC accorded AoN for the procurement of Loiter Munition Systems for artillery regiments, Low Level Light Weight Radars, Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for the Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MRLS), and the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mk-II.
According to the Defence Ministry, “Loiter Munition will be used for precision strike of tactical targets, whereas Low Level Light Weight Radars will detect and track small size, low flying Unmanned Aerial Systems.” The ministry added that “Long Range Guided Rockets will enhance the range and accuracy of Pinaka MRLS for effective engagement of high value targets.” The Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System Mk-II, with enhanced range, will protect vital Army assets in both tactical battle areas and hinterland locations.
Also read: Defence ministry signs ₹2,095 cr deal for anti-tank missiles
The Navy will benefit from approvals for the procurement of Bollard Pull Tugs, High Frequency Software Defined Radios (HF SDR) in manpack configuration, and the leasing of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
The Defence Ministry said, “Induction of BP Tugs will assist Naval ships and submarines in berthing, unberthing, and manoeuvring in confined waters/harbour.” It added that the HF SDR would enhance long-range secured communications during boarding and landing operations, while the HALE RPAS would ensure continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, strengthening maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean Region.
For the Air Force, AoN was approved for the induction of Automatic Take-off and Landing Recording Systems, Astra Mk-II air-to-air missiles, Full Mission Simulators for the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, and SPICE-1000 long-range guidance kits.
“Induction of the Automatic Take-off Landing Recording System will fill the gaps in the aerospace safety environment by providing high definition all-weather automatic recording of landing and take-off,” the ministry said. The Astra Mk-II missile, with enhanced range, will increase the ability of fighter aircraft to neutralise hostile platforms from extended stand-off distances, while simulators will bolster pilot training in a cost-effective and safe manner. The SPICE-1000 kits will further enhance the Air Force’s long-range precision strike capability.
The approvals underline the government’s push towards modernisation and preparedness across the armed forces amid evolving security challenges.
Follow us
