New Delhi, Oct 23: In a major boost to the Indian armed forces, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday approved proposals worth ₹79,000 crore for the procurement of new warships, missile systems, naval surface guns, and other advanced equipment, the Defence Ministry said.
The DAC cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)—the first formal step in the procurement process—for a wide range of indigenous projects under the “Make in India” initiative.
For the Indian Navy, the council approved the acquisition of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs)—warships capable of launching amphibious operations in coordination with the Army and Air Force. The LPDs can transport troops, tanks, and vehicles directly onto shorelines without docking at a jetty, significantly enhancing India’s sea-based force projection capabilities.
The Navy will also get 30mm Naval Surface Guns (NSGs), Advanced Lightweight Torpedoes (ALWTs), Electro-Optical Infrared Search and Track Systems, and Smart Ammunition for 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mounts.
The ALWT, developed by the DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, is capable of targeting conventional, nuclear, and midget submarines. The new 30mm NSGs are designed to strengthen the Navy and Coast Guard’s ability to conduct low-intensity maritime operations and anti-piracy missions.
For the Army, AoN was granted for the Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II (NAMIS), Ground-Based Mobile ELINT System (GBMES), and High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) with material handling cranes. The NAMIS (Tracked) will improve the Army’s capacity to neutralise enemy combat vehicles and bunkers, while the GBMES will provide 24×7 electronic intelligence on enemy emissions. The HMVs will strengthen logistical support in diverse terrains.
The Indian Air Force also received AoN for the Collaborative Long Range Target Saturation/Destruction System (CLRTS/DS) and other projects. The CLRTS/DS is designed for autonomous take-off, landing, navigation, detection, and payload delivery in mission areas.
