Key Facts
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, on Friday approved a series of acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 52,000 crore for the Indian Armed Forces. This marks the first DAC meeting in three months, following the March session where the procurement of five additional S-400 systems from Russia was cleared.
Details of Proposals
For the Indian Army
- Akash Tarang: An anti-UAV system to protect Army formations from drone threats.
- Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Weapon System: Provides medium-range air defence against stand-off aerial threats.
- Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS): Multi-spectral sensing enhances counter-measure resilience.
- Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System: Cost-effective electronic warfare capability with high lethality.
- Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Systems: To counter mechanised threats.
- Active Protection Systems for Tanks: Improves tank survivability.
For the Indian Navy
- Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS): Equipped with advanced sensors for enhanced situational awareness.
- Multi-Influence Ground Mine (MIGM): Denies freedom of manoeuvre to adversaries.
- Land-Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion System: For testing motors and propulsion systems of naval assets.
For the Indian Air Force
- Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS): For persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, telecommunication, and remote sensing.
Impact and Significance
These approvals reflect the military's urgent need to modernise and adopt new technologies for multi-domain operations. However, the journey from DAC nod to actual induction is lengthy, as AoN is only the initial step in the procurement process.
What Readers Should Know
The DAC is the key defence body that grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital procurements. Obtaining AoN does not guarantee a final order. The last DAC meeting in March cleared the procurement of five additional S-400 systems from Russia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Defence Acquisition Council?
The DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Ministry of Defence for capital acquisitions. It grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) which is the first step in the procurement process.
What are the key proposals cleared?
Key proposals include Akash Tarang anti-UAV system, MRSAM, VSHORADS, Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone for Army, Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System for Navy, and Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellite for IAF.
How much are these proposals worth?
The total value of the acquisition proposals cleared is approximately Rs 52,000 crore.
Does DAC approval mean immediate purchase?
No, AoN is the first step. It does not guarantee a final order; the procurement process involves further stages.
Source: indianexpress.com