Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) Approvals
The DAC led by Defence Minister has approved significant defence procurements worth Rs 1.05 lakh crore for the Indian Armed Forces. These include:
- Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARV)
- Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems
- Integrated Common Inventory Management System for tri-services
- Surface to Air Missiles
All proposals will be indigenously sourced, marking the first step in the defence procurement process with an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN). It's important to note that AoN does not guarantee a final order.
Significance of Procurements
The approved procurements aim to enhance:
- Mobility
- Effective air defence
- Supply chain management
- Operational preparedness
This comes after Operation Sindoor, a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, demonstrating the importance of surface to air missiles, such as Akash and S-400 Triumf.
Highlighted Defense Needs
- Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs): Address the mobility mismatch between main battle tanks and ARVs, crucial for mechanized assaults.
- Electronic Warfare Systems: Essential for countering adversary communication and radar systems, as proven during Operation Sindoor.
- Common Inventory Management System: Enhances cost efficiency and resource allocation across the three services.
Additional Approvals
AoNs were also granted for:
- Moored Mines
- Mine Countermeasure Vessels
- Super Rapid Gun Mount
- Submersible Autonomous Vessels
These are expected to mitigate risks to naval and merchant vessels, supporting indigenous design and development under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category.
