Defence Council approves ₹52,000 crore worth military purchase

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday (July 3, 2026) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for defence acquisition proposals worth nearly ₹52,000 crore aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The Ministry of Defence stated that for the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Electronic Warfare System Akash Tarang, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) weapon systems, Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS), Active Protection Systems for tanks and jet-based Kamikaze drone systems.

Akash Tarang is designed to provide effective protection against hostile drones, while the MPATGM will strengthen the infantry’s capability to counter enemy armoured formations. The MRSAM system will enhance medium-range air defence against a range of aerial threats. The V-SHORADS, equipped with multi-spectral sensing, is expected to improve resilience against countermeasures, while Active Protection Systems will boost tank survivability. The Kamikaze drone system will provide enhanced electronic warfare capability with greater lethality and cost-effectiveness, it added.

For the Indian Navy, the Council approved the acquisition of Multi Influence Ground Mines (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS) and the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion Systems, it added.

The MIGM will strengthen sea denial capabilities by restricting adversary movement, while the NSUAS will improve maritime surveillance and situational awareness through advanced sensors. The new testing facility will support the development and validation of electric propulsion systems for future naval platforms.

The DAC also approved the procurement of Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS) and other proposals for the Indian Air Force. The FW-HAPS platform will provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities, enhancing the Air Force’s long-endurance operational reach.

The latest approvals mark another major push towards modernising India’s armed forces with advanced indigenous and next-generation technologies, strengthening preparedness across land, sea and air domains.