Rajnath Singh-led DAC Clears ₹2.12 Lakh Crore Defence Buys for Army, Navy, IAF
New Delhi, October 26, 2026: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹2.12 lakh crore for the Indian Armed Forces, in one of the largest sets of approvals aimed at military modernisation and indigenous defence production.
The clearances were issued at a DAC meeting held on Monday and span a wide range of platforms and systems, including helicopters, artillery, air defence weapons, surveillance drones, kamikaze drones, counter-drone equipment and naval systems. The Ministry of Defence said around 82% of the approved procurement value will be sourced from Indian industry, aligning the purchases closely with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat push.
Army gets approvals across firepower, mobility and battlefield surveillance
The Indian Army’s approved requirements include High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs), Self-Propelled Tracked Gun Systems, Gun Shot Response Systems (GSRS), Light Multi Role Helicopters (LMRH), Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS), Platform-Based Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), Unmanned Aerial System Brick Long Range, Surveillance UAVs, Integrated Surveillance and Strike Systems, and Long Range Kamikaze Drone Systems.
These acquisitions are intended to improve the Army’s operational mobility, firepower, situational awareness and protection against aerial threats. The High Mobility Vehicles are expected to support logistics and troop movement in difficult terrain and demanding operational environments, while the Self-Propelled Tracked Gun Systems will add mobile artillery firepower for mechanised formations.
The Gun Shot Response System is designed to provide real-time situational awareness and help troops respond more effectively to battlefield threats. The Light Multi Role Helicopters, to be used by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force, will support reconnaissance, surveillance, combat missions, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief tasks.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems will help protect against small aerial threats, while platform-based counter-drone systems will improve the survivability of tanks and other platforms against unmanned aerial threats on the modern battlefield.
The approval of long-range kamikaze drones, surveillance UAVs and integrated surveillance and strike systems is also notable as unmanned warfare and precision targeting continue to grow in importance in military operations.
Navy cleared for decoy systems and indigenous platforms
For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved procurement of Active Offboard Decoy Systems (AODS) along with other major naval platforms.
The Active Offboard Decoy System is meant to strengthen the Navy’s protection against modern anti-ship missiles by improving missile countermeasure effectiveness. The meeting also cleared major naval platforms that will be designed and built indigenously. These platforms are expected to incorporate modern warfare capabilities and improve the Navy’s overall combat effectiveness and operational readiness.
The approvals come at a time when India is looking to reinforce maritime defence capabilities amid changing security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.
Air Force to receive helicopters, radars and air defence systems
The Indian Air Force will also benefit from the latest approvals, with acquisitions covering Special Utility Helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar Systems.
The Special Utility Helicopters are meant to meet critical air transportation requirements and improve operational flexibility across different terrains. The Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar Systems will provide high-resolution, localised weather surveillance in forward areas, supporting aviation activity and operational planning in difficult weather conditions.
Additional air defence systems and weapons are aimed at enhancing the IAF’s combat readiness and strengthening its ability to deal with emerging aerial threats.
Major share of value to go to Indian industry
The Ministry of Defence said about 82% of the total approved procurement value will be sourced from Indian industry, giving a strong push to domestic manufacturers and the wider defence ecosystem.
The approvals are also in line with the armed forces’ growing emphasis on newer battlefield technologies such as unmanned aerial systems, precision-strike weapons, counter-drone solutions, advanced surveillance tools and integrated air defence systems.
AoN is the first step in procurement
The ₹2.12 lakh crore approvals represent an important administrative step, but Acceptance of Necessity does not mean contracts have already been signed. The proposals will now move through the subsequent stages of the acquisition process before final contracts are concluded.
Once the process is completed, the procurements are expected to strengthen India’s military preparedness across land, sea and air while also providing a significant boost to domestic defence manufacturing.
