Drones, artillery guns and helicopters: DAC clears ₹2.12 lakh crore defence buys

The defence acquisition council (DAC) on Monday approved military purchases worth ₹2.12 lakh crore to bolster the military’s combat readiness, covering next-generation destroyers, additional K9 Vajra-T artillery guns, high-mobility vehicles, helicopters, air defence systems and a range of unmanned platforms including kamikaze drones, officials aware of the matter said.

Around 82% of the hardware will be sourced from domestic industry, the defence ministry said. (Representational Image) (YT/@NarendraModi)

Around 82% of the hardware will be sourced from domestic industry, the defence ministry said. It underscored the role of the equipment in enhancing the operational capabilities of the armed forces.

The defence ministry described the next-generation warships as “other major naval platforms” in an official statement. “The indigenously designed and constructed major naval platforms will possess modern-day warfare capabilities and enhance the combat capability of the navy,” it said, without specifying the numbers.

However, the navy’s last batch of Project-15B warships comprised four destroyers.

“The (K9) self-propelled tracked gun system will provide mobility and firepower to mechanised formations. The high-mobility vehicles will enhance operational capabilities, logistics support and mobility in challenging terrains. The VSHORADS (very short-range air defence system) will help the army engage new-generation small aerial threats,” it said in a statement.

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The DAC, chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, also granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for special utility helicopters to meet the Indian Air Force’s key air transport requirements, light multi-role helicopters (LMRH) for both the army and IAF, a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) to enhance tank survivability, and an active off-board decoy system for the navy.

The LMRH will be used by both services for “reconnaissance and surveillance, combat, search and rescue of troops, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.” “The active off-board decoy system will enhance the credibility of anti-missile defence, especially against modern anti-ship missiles of adversaries,” the defence ministry said.

Under India’s defence procurement rules, AoN by the council is the first step towards buying military equipment.

The other hardware cleared included a gunshot response system, integrated surveillance and strike system, long-range kamikaze drone system, and surveillance drones, all for the army. For the IAF, approval was also accorded for air defence systems, weapons and a mobile X-band Doppler weather radar system. The system will provide high-resolution, localised weather surveillance in forward areas.

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In September, the DAC cleared proposals worth ₹1.1 lakh crore to sharpen the armed forces' capabilities. These included systems to enhance the war-fighting capability of fighter jets, transport planes and helicopters, new advanced light helicopters and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) recce vehicles for the army, and Arudhra radars for the navy.

It also accorded AoN for a ground-based multi-purpose jammer for the IAF, and the design, development and subsequent procurement of marine gas turbines (MGT) for the navy.

Boosting the defence manufacturing sector is a top government priority. India’s annual defence production hit a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in the financial year 2025-26, up 15.6% from ₹1.54 lakh crore in the previous fiscal. This marked a 110% increase from FY 2020-21, when defence production stood at ₹84,643 crore, according to defence ministry data. The government aims to achieve defence manufacturing worth ₹3 lakh crore by 2029-30. It has also set a target of achieving ₹50,000 crore in defence exports during the same period.