Defence Acquisition Council Approves Rs 7,800 Crore Proposals for Strengthening Indian Armed Forces

25 Aug 2023 , 01:15 PM

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the leadership of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted approval for proposals amounting to Rs 7,800 crore aimed at bolstering the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. The announcement was made in an official statement by the ministry on Thursday.

Emphasizing a commitment to self-reliance, the ministry highlighted that all procurements will exclusively be sourced from indigenous providers, fostering domestic defense production. Among the approvals, the DAC has given the green light for the procurement and installation of an Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite on Mi-17 V5 helicopters. This significant advancement under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category is expected to enhance the survival capabilities of the helicopters during operations. Bharat Electronics (BEL) will be the source for procuring the Electronic Warfare Suite.

Another noteworthy decision by the DAC involves the acceptance of necessity (AoN) for acquiring a ground-based autonomous system for mechanized infantry and armored regiments. This system will play a pivotal role in tasks such as unmanned surveillance, logistics delivery of ammunition, fuel, spares, and casualty evacuation on the battlefield.

The DAC also sanctioned the proposal for procuring 7.62×51 mm Light Machine Guns (LMG) and Bridge Laying Tanks (BLT). Adding LMGs will augment the combat capabilities of infantry forces, while BLTs are set to expedite the mobility of mechanized units.

Under Project Shakti, the DAC granted AoN to procure ruggedized laptops and tablets for the Indian Army, reinforcing its digital capabilities. As with other acquisitions, the focus remains on indigenous sourcing.

Enhancing the operational potential of the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopters, the DAC approved the procurement of weapons specifically tailored for these helicopters, thereby bolstering their combat readiness.

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