DAC clears ₹79,000 crore defence proposals to boost Army, Navy and Air Force capabilities

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved a series of capital acquisition proposals worth around ₹79,000 crore to enhance the combat readiness and operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.

The approvals, granted during a meeting held at South Block in New Delhi, cover a wide range of procurements for the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The council granted acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the purchase of the Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II, Ground-Based Mobile ELINT System, and high mobility vehicles equipped with material-handling cranes.

The indigenously developed Nag Missile System will bolster the Indian Army’s ability to destroy enemy tanks, bunkers and field fortifications, while the ELINT system will provide continuous electronic intelligence on adversary emissions.

The new high-mobility vehicles are aimed at strengthening logistics and mobility across diverse terrains.

The AoN was also granted for acquiring Landing Platform Docks (LPDs), 30mm Naval Surface Guns, Advanced Lightweight Torpedoes (ALWTs), Electro-Optical Infra-Red Search and Track Systems, and Smart Ammunition for the 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount.

The LPDs will boost the Navy’s amphibious and joint operations capability alongside the Army and Air Force, and will also be instrumental in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief missions.

The ALWT, developed by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, can engage conventional, nuclear, and midget submarines, while the new surface guns will aid in anti-piracy and low-intensity maritime operations.

For the Indian Air Force, the DAC cleared the Collaborative Long Range Target Saturation/Destruction System (CLRTS/DS), among other proposals. The system will enable autonomous take-off, navigation, detection, and payload delivery for long-range missions, strengthening the IAF’s strike and surveillance capabilities.

All the proposals fall under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category amid the government’s continued emphasis on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence procurement and the push for indigenous design, development and manufacturing of military hardware.