Defence Council Approves ₹2.12 Lakh Crore in Proposals

The Defence Acquisition Council has granted in-principle approval to capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹2.12 lakh crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force, advancing a broad package of military procurement plans chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The approvals, known as Acceptance of Necessity, cover a range of proposed equipment including vehicles, artillery systems, helicopters, air-defence and counter-drone systems, surveillance platforms, long-range drones, naval decoys and weather radars. The proposals are intended to strengthen capabilities across land, maritime and air operations. For the Army, the proposed acquisitions include High Mobility Vehicles, Self-Propelled Tracked Gun Systems, Gun Shot Response Systems, Light Multi Role Helicopters and Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems. The list also includes platform-based counter-unmanned aerial systems, surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles, integrated surveillance and strike systems, and long-range kamikaze drones. The Defence Ministry said the vehicles are intended to improve logistics and mobility in challenging terrain, while the tracked gun systems would provide mechanised formations with mobility and...