New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday approved Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various proposals of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, amounting to around ₹79,000 crore. The move is aimed at modernizing and enhancing the operational capabilities of India’s armed forces.
Modernization of the Indian Army
The AoN includes procurement of:
- Loiter Munition System for precision strikes by artillery regiments.
- Low Level Light Weight Radars to detect and track small, low-flying drones.
- Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MRLS) to enhance range and accuracy.
- Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System Mk-II to safeguard vital assets in tactical battle areas and hinterlands.
These systems will boost the Army’s precision strike, surveillance, and defensive capabilities.
Enhancing Indian Navy Capabilities
For the Navy, AoN was granted for:
- Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs to aid ships and submarines in berthing and maneuvering in harbors.
- High Frequency Software Defined Radios (HF SDR) Manpack for long-range secure communication.
- High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) on lease for continuous intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime domain awareness over the Indian Ocean Region.
Strengthening the Indian Air Force
The AoN for the Air Force includes:
- Automatic Take-off Landing Recording System for high-definition all-weather recording of aircraft operations.
- Astra Mk-II Missiles with enhanced range to engage adversary aircraft from longer distances.
- Full Mission Simulator for Light Combat Aircraft Tejas to improve pilot training safely and cost-effectively.
- SPICE-1000 Long Range Guidance Kits to boost precision strike capabilities.
The new acquisitions are expected to significantly enhance combat readiness, operational efficiency, and surveillance capabilities across all three services.