The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday gave the green light to purchase weapons and systems worth $Rs 52,000 crore to enhance the capabilities of the armed forces. The defense ministry said the capability enhancement approved by the Council – India’s apex defense procurement body – covers the procurement of a range of systems, ranging from the anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (anti-UAV) electronic warfare system ‘AKASH TARANG’, portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) systems to the medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) weapon system.
The DAC also granted acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the procurement of a short-range air defense system (V-SHORADS), a tank active protection system, and a kamikaze drone system, the ministry added in a statement.
The above military equipment is intended for the army.
Under India’s defense procurement rules, an AoN by the Council is the first step towards procurement of military equipment. This is the first time that the DAC has met after India’s new military leadership took charge under Chief of Defense Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth. Senior appointments have been made recently.
Seth, who took over as army chief on June 30, said on Wednesday that the modernization of the force will form the cornerstone of its transformation into a future-ready force.
The Ministry of Defense explained the capacity enhancement: Akash Tarang will provide effective anti-drone protection to army formations; The MPATGM will enhance the infantry’s ability to counter adversary mechanized threats; The MRSAM system provides medium-range air defense against various air threats.
“V-SHORADS with multi-spectral sensing will enhance the flexibility and effectiveness of countermeasures of the Indian Army. The active protection system will improve the defense mechanism of the tank and enhance its survivability. The kamikaze drones will provide better electronic warfare capability with greater lethality and survivability while also being cost-effective,” the ministry said.
The Navy’s certified military equipment includes a Multiple Impact Land Mine (MIGM), a Naval Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS) and the establishment of a Land Based Test Facility (LBTF) for electric propulsion systems. “The MIGM will deny freedom of maneuver to the adversary. The NSUAS, equipped with advanced sensors, will enhance the situational awareness of the Indian Navy. The LBTF will meet the testing requirements of engines and associated propulsion systems of Indian Navy assets.”
The Indian Air Force has received approval to purchase the Fixed-Wing False High-Altitude Satellite (FW-HAPS). The ministry added that it will assume intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), communications and remote sensing tasks for the Air Force.
Last February, India increased its defense spending by more than 15% on the back of Operation Sindoor. $7.85 lakh crore for critical sector in the Union Budget for 2026-27. This included capital expenditure of $2.19 lakh crores to enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces with new weapons and systems including fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, warships, submarines, artillery guns, smart weapons, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and a variety of unmanned systems.
