NEW DELHI — India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹1.10 lakh crore for the Indian Armed Forces.
The DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), which provides in-principle administrative approval and is an important step in India’s defence procurement process.
According to the Ministry of Defence, approximately 98 per cent of the procurements covered by these approvals will be sourced from Indian industry, reinforcing the government’s focus on domestic defence manufacturing and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
Indian Army to Receive New Mobility and Combat Support Systems
For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Recce Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs), Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers (MML), Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System.
The CBRN Recce Vehicles will be used to detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated by CBRN agents.
The High Mobility Vehicles are intended to improve the Army’s operational capabilities, logistics support and mobility in challenging terrain.
The Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers will provide the Army with a fast and responsive mine-laying capability in difficult terrain.
The approved Advanced Light Helicopters will be used by both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force for complex missions across different terrains and operational situations.
The Trawl Tanks and Sarvatra Bridge System will provide composite crossing capabilities to fighting formations during operations across varied terrain.
Navy to Get Arudhra Radars and Indigenous Marine Gas Turbines
For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the procurement of Arudhra Radars and the design, development and subsequent procurement of Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs).
The Arudhra Radars will replace the existing Air Route Surveillance Radars at various Naval Air Stations.
The Marine Gas Turbines are intended for warship propulsion. Their design and development in India, followed by procurement, is aimed at reducing the Navy’s dependence on foreign vendors for this capability.
Air Force Approvals Focus on Electronic Warfare and Security
The DAC also approved proposals aimed at enhancing the war-fighting capabilities of the Indian Air Force’s fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters.
Among the specific approvals was the Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammer (GBMPJ). The system will provide effective jamming against adversary radars.
The council also cleared the installation of the Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) system.
DEFSAC will replace existing paper-based identity cards, passes and permits with an interoperable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based smart card system for access to defence facilities.
The Ministry of Defence announced the decisions through an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau on September 7, 2026. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also highlighted the approvals on his official X account, pointing to the focus on strengthening India’s domestic defence industrial base.
Chaired the meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) today.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 7, 2026
The DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to various acquisition proposals of the Defence Forces at an estimated cost of about Rs 1,10,000 crore.
Of the total AoNs accorded, approximately 98% of procurements…
With about ₹1.10 lakh crore in capital acquisition proposals receiving AoN and approximately 98 per cent of the procurements expected to be sourced from Indian industry, the latest approvals cover mobility, surveillance, propulsion, electronic warfare, aviation and military access-security capabilities across the three services.
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