New Delhi — The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved proposals worth ₹79,000 crore to strengthen India’s armed forces with new warships, missile systems, high-mobility vehicles, and advanced weaponry.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the approvals mark the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) — the first step in India’s defence procurement process. The massive upgrade aims to enhance the operational readiness of the Army, Navy, and Air Force with cutting-edge indigenous technologies.
For the Indian Navy, the DAC granted AoN for the procurement of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) — large amphibious warships capable of landing troops, tanks, and vehicles directly onshore without using port facilities. These ships will significantly boost India’s maritime strike and amphibious warfare capabilities.
In addition, the Navy will receive 30mm Naval Surface Guns (NSG), Advanced Light Weight Torpedoes (ALWT), Electro-Optical Infra-Red Search and Track Systems, and Smart Ammunition for 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mounts. The ALWT, developed indigenously by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, can target conventional, nuclear, and midget submarines, enhancing undersea defence capabilities.
The procurement of the 30mm NSG will further strengthen the Indian Navy and Coast Guard’s ability to conduct Low Intensity Maritime Operations and anti-piracy missions across the Indian Ocean Region.
For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the acquisition of the Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II (NAMIS), Ground-Based Mobile Electronic Intelligence Systems (GBMES), and High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) with material handling cranes. The NAMIS will bolster India’s anti-tank and bunker-neutralisation capabilities, while the GBMES will enhance round-the-clock electronic surveillance of enemy positions. The HMVs will improve logistical mobility in varied terrains.
For the Indian Air Force, the council cleared the Collaborative Long Range Target Saturation/Destruction System (CLRTS/DS) — an advanced autonomous platform capable of take-off, landing, navigation, and precision payload delivery in hostile environments.
All the acquisitions are part of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, with a focus on indigenous design, development, and manufacturing to strengthen India’s defence industrial base.
