Anti-drone systems, kamikaze drones among ₹52,000 crore defence buys cleared by Rajnath-led DAC

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹52,000 crore aimed at enhancing the combat readiness of the armed forces.

The approvals cover a range of equipment for the Army, Navy and Air Force, including anti-drone systems, missile systems, unmanned platforms and surveillance assets.

For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of the anti-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) electronic warfare system 'AKASH TARANG', man portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) systems, medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) weapon system, very short range air defence system (V-SHORADS), active protection system for tanks and jet-based kamikaze drone system.

According to the Defence Ministry, the AKASH TARANG system will provide effective protection against hostile drones for Army formations, while the MPATGM will enhance the infantry's capability to counter mechanised threats.

The MRSAM system is designed to provide medium-range air defence against a range of aerial threats, while the V-SHORADS, equipped with multi-spectral sensing, will improve resilience against countermeasures and strengthen the Army's air defence capability.

The active protection system is expected to improve the survivability of tanks by enhancing their defensive capability, while the jet-based kamikaze drones will provide greater electronic warfare capability with improved lethality and survivability at a lower cost, the ministry said.

For the Indian Navy, the council approved the procurement of multi influence ground mine (MIGM), naval shipborne unmanned aerial system (NSUAS) and the setting up of a land based testing facility (LBTF) for electric propulsion systems.

The ministry said the MIGM would help deny freedom of manoeuvre to adversaries, while the NSUAS, equipped with advanced sensors, would enhance the Navy's situational awareness. The proposed testing facility will support the evaluation of motors and propulsion systems for naval platforms.

For the Indian Air Force, the DAC approved the procurement of a fixed-wing based high altitude pseudo satellite (FW-HAPS), along with other proposals.

The FW-HAPS platform will provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, besides supporting telecommunication and remote sensing missions, the ministry said.

The Acceptance of Necessity is the first step in the defence procurement process and amounts to in-principle approval for acquiring military equipment.