DAC Clears ₹1.10 Lakh Crore Defence Deals, 98% Procurements to Be Indian-Sourced

In a major push for indigenous military procurement, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Monday granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹1.10 lakh crore for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on September 7, 2026, and the Ministry of Defence said nearly 98 per cent of the planned purchases are expected to come from Indian industry.

The approvals do not amount to final contracts. AoN is only the first formal administrative clearance in the capital acquisition process, giving the services permission to begin the next stages of procurement. Those later steps typically include the issue of Request for Proposal, trials, negotiations and eventual contract award, which will determine the final quantities, delivery timelines and vendors.

The latest DAC clearances span a wide range of systems for land, sea and air forces. The approved proposals are intended to improve mobility, battlefield support, reconnaissance, bridging, surveillance, propulsion, air combat and force protection, reflecting the armed forces’ push to replace or augment existing equipment with newer platforms.

Army requirements: mobility, bridging and battlefield support

For the Indian Army, the council cleared the procurement of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Recce Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles (HMV), Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers (MML), Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System.

The CBRN Recce Vehicles are meant to detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents. In practical terms, these platforms are designed to help troops operate in hazardous environments where contamination has to be mapped quickly and safely before movement or combat operations can continue.

The High Mobility Vehicles are expected to strengthen the Army’s logistical reach and operational mobility, especially in difficult terrain. Such vehicles are important for moving troops, supplies and equipment across areas where standard transport platforms may be less effective.

The Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers are intended to allow faster and more responsive laying of mines in challenging operational conditions. The mine-laying capability is relevant for battlefield shaping and area denial, particularly in terrain where speed and protection matter.

The Advanced Light Helicopters approved under the package are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and are commonly known as Dhruv. These helicopters will be used by both the Army and the Indian Air Force for complex missions across different terrains and operational environments.

Also among the Army-specific approvals are Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System, both of which are intended to support composite crossings for fighting formations during operations in varied terrain. The bridge system is especially relevant for enabling movement of combat units across obstacles during offensive or defensive manoeuvres.

Navy clears radars and indigenous propulsion work

For the Indian Navy, the DAC accorded AoN for the procurement of Arudhra Radars and for the design, development and subsequent procurement of Marine Gas Turbines (MGT). The Arudhra Radars are set to replace existing Air Route Surveillance Radars at various Naval Air Stations.

The Marine Gas Turbines are a warship propulsion system, and the move to design and develop them domestically is aimed at reducing dependence on foreign vendors. The approval therefore covers not only immediate procurement but also the longer-term effort to build an indigenous propulsion capability for naval platforms.

Air Force systems and common force-protection measures

For the Indian Air Force, the council approved multiple proposals aimed at improving the war-fighting capability of fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters. The Ministry did not specify the individual items in its statement, but said the clearances are intended to enhance operational effectiveness across different aircraft categories.

The DAC also approved Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers (GBMPJ), which are designed to provide effective jamming against adversary radars. In addition, it cleared the installation of the Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) system.

The DEFSAC system will replace paper-based identity cards, passes and permits with an interoperable radio-frequency identification-based smart card system. The upgrade is intended to streamline access and identification procedures across the defence services.

Push for Indian industry

The Ministry of Defence said approximately 98 per cent of the total value of the AoNs would be sourced from Indian industry, underlining the government’s continuing emphasis on domestic defence manufacturing. While the statement did not release individual quantities or estimated costs for each item, the overall package represents one of the larger recent sets of in-principle clearances for the three services.

With the approvals now in place, the proposals will move into the procurement pipeline, where technical specifications, commercial terms and vendor selection will be worked out before any contracts are signed.