The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for defence procurement proposals valued at nearly Rs 52,000 crore, paving the way for a series of acquisitions intended to enhance the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force in areas such as air defence, anti-drone warfare, surveillance and unmanned systems.
Among the approvals for the Indian Army are the procurement of the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Electronic Warfare System 'AKASH TARANG', Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Systems, the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Weapon System, the Very Short Range Air Defence System (V-SHORADS), an Active Protection System for Tanks and a Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System.
According to the Defence Ministry, the AKASH TARANG system is intended to provide effective protection against unmanned aerial threats for Army formations. The MPATGM is expected to strengthen the infantry's capability to tackle mechanised targets, while the MRSAM Weapon System is designed to defend against a variety of medium-range stand-off aerial threats.
The ministry said the V-SHORADS, equipped with multi-spectral sensing technology, will improve resistance to counter-measures and further reinforce the Army's air defence network. The Active Protection System aims to improve the survivability of tanks by enhancing protection against incoming attacks, while the Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System is expected to boost electronic warfare capabilities through increased lethality, survivability and cost effectiveness.
For the Indian Navy, the DAC cleared the acquisition of the Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM), the Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS), and the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion Systems.
The Defence Ministry said the MIGM is intended to restrict the operational freedom of adversaries, while the NSUAS, equipped with advanced sensors, will enhance the Navy's situational awareness. The proposed Land Based Testing Facility will be used to evaluate motors and associated electric propulsion systems for Indian naval platforms.
The council also approved procurement proposals for the Indian Air Force, including a Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS), along with other systems.
According to the ministry, the FW-HAPS platform will deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities, thereby significantly expanding the Air Force's operational reach and endurance.
Acceptance of Necessity is the initial step in India's capital acquisition process. It provides in-principle approval for the procurement of military equipment before the proposal advances to subsequent stages, including the tendering process and contract negotiations.
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