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New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for military equipment worth approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore, marking a major push to strengthen the combat capabilities of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
The most significant aspect of the approvals is that around 98% of the procurement is planned from Indian industry, reinforcing the government's focus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and domestic defence manufacturing.
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For the Indian Army, the approvals cover CBRN reconnaissance vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), trawl tanks and Sarvatra bridge systems.
The CBRN vehicles will enable forces to detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents.
Meanwhile, HMVs, ALHs and specialised bridging systems are aimed at improving mobility, logistics and operational manoeuvrability across difficult terrain.
The Indian Navy received AoN for Arudhra radars and the design, development and subsequent procurement of Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs).
Arudhra radars will replace existing air-route surveillance radars at Naval Air Stations, while indigenous MGT development is intended to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for critical warship propulsion technology.
For the Indian Air Force, the approvals include systems to enhance the war-fighting capabilities of its fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters.
The Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammer (GBMPJ) will provide the ability to disrupt adversary radar systems, strengthening India's electronic-warfare capabilities.
Approval was also granted for the Defence Forces Secure Access Card system, aimed at strengthening secure access across defence establishments.
The package goes beyond simply adding new equipment. It targets several critical capability areas simultaneously—electronic warfare, air surveillance, CBRN defence, battlefield mobility, bridging, mine warfare and naval propulsion.
More importantly, the decision places Indian industry at the centre of the procurement cycle.
With 98% of the approved acquisitions earmarked for domestic industry, the package could generate substantial opportunities for Indian defence companies, including private firms and DPSUs, while helping build domestic capabilities in strategically important technologies.
The bigger shift is clear: India's defence modernisation is increasingly being tied to industrial self-reliance—using large military orders to build the domestic technologies and manufacturing ecosystem needed for future capability and exports.
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