New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has cleared military procurement proposals worth around Rs 1.10 lakh crore to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force and accelerate domestic defence production.
The proposals were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The council granted Acceptance of Necessity, marking the first major stage in the defence procurement process, for a wide range of equipment.
The Indian Army will receive approvals for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear reconnaissance vehicles, high mobility vehicles, self propelled mechanical mine layers, advanced light helicopters, trawl tanks and the Sarvatra bridge system.
The CBRN reconnaissance vehicles will help troops identify and monitor areas affected by hazardous chemical, biological or radiological substances. High mobility vehicles are intended to improve troop transportation and logistics, particularly in challenging terrain.
Advanced light helicopters will support Army and Air Force operations across different environments, while trawl tanks and the Sarvatra bridge system are designed to enhance battlefield mobility and facilitate the movement of forces across difficult obstacles.
For the Indian Navy, the procurement package includes Arudhra radars along with the design, development and eventual acquisition of marine gas turbines for warship propulsion.
The Arudhra systems are expected to replace existing air route surveillance radars at naval air stations, improving monitoring and airspace awareness. The marine gas turbine programme is aimed at reducing dependence on overseas suppliers for critical propulsion technology.
The Indian Air Force will also receive new electronic warfare capabilities, including Ground Based Multi Purpose Jammers. The systems are designed to counter hostile radar networks and strengthen the electronic warfare capabilities of fighter aircraft and other platforms.
The approvals also include the installation of the Defence Forces Secure Access Card system.
The ministry said nearly 98 per cent of the approved procurements will be sourced from Indian industry, giving a major boost to domestic defence manufacturing and supporting the government’s push for greater self reliance in military equipment.
