Defence Acquisition Council Approves ₹1.10 Lakh Crore Capital Procurement Proposals for Armed Forces

In a major initiative to enhance military readiness and boost domestic defence manufacturing, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to capital acquisition proposals worth about ₹1.10 lakh crore on September 7, 2026. Official statements issued through the Press Information Bureau (PIB) highlight that approximately 98 percent of the total approved procurements will be sourced directly from the Indian domestic defence industry under the 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' frameworks. For the Indian Army, the approved proposals include Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Reconnaissance Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles (HMV), Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH Dhruv), Trawl Tanks, and the Sarvatra Mobile Bridging System. These acquisitions aim to expand operational flexibility, mine-clearing speed, and tactical logistics across varied land terrains. The Indian Navy received clearances for indigenous Arudhra medium-power radars and the design, development, and procurement of Marine Gas Turbines for warship propulsion. This development marks a vital import-substitution step to reduce reliance on foreign marine engine suppliers. For the Indian Air Force, the DAC approved upgrades to improve the war-fighting capabilities of fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters, alongside procuring Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers to counter adversary radar systems and installing a tri-service RFID-based Defence Forces Secure Access Card system. Public sector entities such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are expected to be key beneficiaries as these approvals transition into formal contracts over coming fiscal cycles.