New Delhi, September 7: In a major push towards strengthening India’s military capabilities and boosting indigenous defence manufacturing, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Monday accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to a series of capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The meeting of the apex defence acquisition body was chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.

The most significant feature of the approvals is the strong emphasis on domestic procurement. According to the Ministry of Defence, approximately 98 per cent of the total value of the procurements cleared by the DAC will be sourced from Indian industry.

The approvals cover a wide range of capabilities, including battlefield mobility, CBRN reconnaissance, mine-laying, helicopters, bridging systems, naval radars, warship propulsion, electronic warfare and secure military communications.

The latest decisions are expected to provide a major boost to India’s ongoing efforts to modernise its armed forces while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.

Army to receive new battlefield capabilities

For the Indian Army, the DAC approved several important acquisition proposals aimed at enhancing mobility, survivability and operational effectiveness across different terrains.

Among the key systems cleared are Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Recce Vehicles, which will be designed to detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated by CBRN agents.

Such vehicles are particularly important for operations in environments where troops could be exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear hazards.

The ability to rapidly identify contaminated zones can help commanders take appropriate decisions, protect troops and prevent personnel from inadvertently entering hazardous areas.

The Army has also received approval for High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs).

These vehicles are intended to strengthen operational mobility and logistic support, particularly in difficult and challenging terrain.

For a force operating across India’s diverse geography—from high-altitude areas and deserts to forests and difficult border regions—mobility remains a critical operational requirement.

The acquisition of HMVs is therefore expected to strengthen the Army’s ability to rapidly move troops, equipment and supplies.

Faster mine-laying capability

Another significant proposal approved for the Army is the procurement of Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers (MMLs).

The systems are expected to provide the Army with a fast and responsive mine-laying capability, including in difficult terrain.

Rapidly creating defensive minefields can be an important battlefield requirement, particularly during operations where forces need to restrict enemy movement or reinforce defensive positions.

The mechanised capability is expected to improve speed and responsiveness compared with more manpower-intensive mine-laying methods.

Advanced Light Helicopters for complex missions

The DAC has also cleared procurement of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs).

The helicopters will be used by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force for carrying out complex missions across different terrains and operational situations.

The ALH Dhruv, designed and manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, has become one of the country’s most important indigenous helicopter platforms.

The latest approval will further expand India’s helicopter capability while simultaneously supporting the domestic aerospace industry.

The helicopters can provide the armed forces with additional flexibility for troop movement, logistics, battlefield support, casualty evacuation and other missions depending on the variant and operational requirement.

Trawl Tanks and Sarvatra Bridge System

The Army’s engineering and mobility capabilities are also set to receive a boost through the approval for Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System.

Trawl tanks are used to help armoured formations negotiate mine-contaminated areas and maintain mobility during combat operations.

The Sarvatra Bridge System, meanwhile, is intended to provide composite crossings to fighting formations operating across varied terrain.

Bridging capability can become particularly important when military formations encounter rivers, canals, gaps and other obstacles that could otherwise slow down or restrict their movement.

Together, these capabilities are intended to ensure that fighting formations can maintain momentum during operations and overcome battlefield obstacles.

Navy to get new-generation Arudhra radars

For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the procurement of Arudhra Radars.

The radar systems will replace existing Air Route Surveillance Radars at various Naval Air Stations.

Modern surveillance radars are critical for maintaining situational awareness around naval air stations and supporting safe and effective management of air operations.

The move will therefore contribute to upgrading the Navy’s surveillance infrastructure.

The approval also includes the design and development, followed by procurement, of Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs).

Indigenous marine gas turbines

The Marine Gas Turbine programme could have major long-term significance for India’s naval industrial ecosystem.

Marine gas turbines are used as propulsion systems aboard warships, and developing them domestically could help reduce India’s dependence on foreign vendors.

The Ministry of Defence has specifically highlighted the objective of reducing dependence on overseas suppliers.

Developing an indigenous capability in this area would also strengthen India’s ability to design, manufacture, maintain and upgrade critical propulsion technologies for future warships.

For a Navy seeking to expand its fleet and strengthen its presence across the Indian Ocean Region, reliable access to propulsion systems is a strategically important capability.

IAF to strengthen electronic warfare capabilities

The Indian Air Force has also received approval for multiple proposals aimed at enhancing its war-fighting capabilities across fighter aircraft, transport platforms and helicopters.

One of the major approvals is for the procurement of Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers (GBMPJs).

These systems will provide the ability to conduct electronic jamming against adversary radars.

Electronic warfare has become an increasingly important component of modern military operations, where control of the electromagnetic spectrum can influence the effectiveness of radar, communications and other battlefield systems.

Ground-based jamming systems can therefore provide an additional layer of electronic warfare capability to support air and ground operations.

Secure communication and identification system

The DAC has also cleared the installation of the Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) System.

The system will replace existing paper-based identity cards, passes and permits with an interoperable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based smart card system.

The move is aimed at improving security, identification and access management across the Defence Forces.

A secure and interoperable identification system can help streamline access control while reducing dependence on conventional paper documentation.

The introduction of RFID-based smart cards is also part of the wider push towards digitisation and modernisation of defence infrastructure.

98% procurement from Indian industry

Perhaps the biggest message emerging from Monday’s DAC meeting is the scale of the emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

With approximately 98 per cent of the total procurement value expected to come from Indian industry, the latest approvals represent a significant opportunity for India’s defence manufacturers.

The projects span several sectors, including land systems, aerospace, naval technology, radar systems, electronic warfare and military communications.

This could translate into substantial orders and development opportunities for Indian public-sector undertakings as well as private defence companies and the wider domestic supply chain.

The policy objective is not simply to purchase equipment domestically, but increasingly to develop the design, manufacturing and maintenance ecosystem within the country.

Building a stronger indigenous defence ecosystem

The scale and diversity of the approvals underline India’s broader strategy of modernising its armed forces while building domestic industrial capacity.

From helicopters and military vehicles to naval propulsion systems and electronic warfare equipment, the projects cleared by the DAC cover several critical areas of defence technology.

The emphasis on indigenous procurement is particularly significant in areas where foreign dependence can create vulnerabilities in times of geopolitical uncertainty or supply-chain disruption.

Developing domestic capabilities can provide India greater control over production, maintenance, upgrades and future technological development.

A major boost to military modernisation

The ₹1.10 lakh crore package comes as the Indian armed forces continue their long-term modernisation programmes.

The Army is looking to improve mobility and combat engineering capabilities, the Navy is pursuing enhanced surveillance and indigenous propulsion technology, while the Air Force continues to strengthen its electronic warfare and combat capabilities.

The approvals therefore represent a broad-based effort rather than a single-platform acquisition programme.

They also reflect the changing nature of modern warfare, where traditional firepower is increasingly being complemented by electronic warfare, secure digital systems, advanced sensors and rapid battlefield mobility.

Defence manufacturing gets another major push

For India’s domestic defence industry, the DAC’s latest approvals could represent a major opportunity.

The government has been steadily increasing the share of defence procurement sourced from Indian manufacturers, with the objective of developing India as a major defence production hub.

The latest figure—around 98 per cent of the value of the approved procurements coming from Indian industry—underscores how far that policy has advanced.

The projects could generate demand across the defence manufacturing ecosystem, including major platforms, subsystems, components, maintenance and technology development.

From battlefield mobility to electronic warfare

The approvals announced on September 7 cover an unusually broad spectrum of military requirements.

For the Army: CBRN reconnaissance vehicles, high-mobility vehicles, mechanical mine layers, ALHs, trawl tanks and Sarvatra bridging systems.

For the Navy: Arudhra radars and indigenous Marine Gas Turbine development and procurement.

For the Air Force: enhanced capabilities for fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters, along with ground-based multi-purpose jammers and the DEFSAC secure identification system.

Together, these programmes are designed to improve India’s ability to detect threats, move forces, overcome obstacles, protect personnel, conduct electronic warfare and sustain military operations.

The bigger picture

The DAC’s latest approvals mark another major step in India’s military modernisation drive—with ₹1.10 lakh crore worth of capital acquisition proposals receiving in-principle approval and nearly the entire procurement value earmarked for Indian industry.

The focus is not only on acquiring new weapons and equipment but also on building critical technologies within India.

From indigenous helicopters and marine gas turbines to advanced radars, electronic warfare systems and battlefield mobility platforms, the latest approvals underline India’s push to build a more self-reliant and technologically capable military.

With around 98% of the approved procurement value expected to come from Indian industry, the message from the DAC is clear: India’s next phase of military modernisation is being closely tied to the growth of its own defence-industrial base.