India Approves Rs 2.38 Lakh Crore Defence Acquisitions

India's Defence Acquisition Council on Friday approved a sweeping set of procurement proposals valued at Rs 2.38 lakh crore, marking a significant step toward modernizing the armed forces across multiple branches. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, granted Acceptance of Necessity for acquisitions including transport aircraft, air defence systems, artillery, and maritime vehicles, aimed at bolstering operational capabilities amid evolving security challenges.

The approvals cover a diverse array of equipment for the Indian Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard. For the Air Force, the council cleared the purchase of 60 medium transport aircraft at an estimated cost of Rs 1 lakh crore. These will replace the aging fleet of Soviet-era AN-32 and IL-76 planes, addressing strategic, tactical, and operational airlift needs. The program will follow a Buy and Make model, with 12 aircraft acquired in flyaway condition and the remaining 48 produced in India through partnerships with domestic industry.

In addition, five more squadrons of the Russian S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems received the go-ahead, costing around Rs 50,000 crore. This builds...