In a significant move, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the chairmanship of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved for various capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 84,560 crore.
The DAC has accorded approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) with special emphasis on the procurement of various equipment from Indian vendors to give a boost to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance).
The DAC has accorded AoN under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)) category for the procurement of a new generation of Anti-tank mines having seismic sensors and provision of remote deactivation with additional safety features, a government statement said.
Moreover, approval has also been given for the procurement of Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munition System.
Approval has also been given for the procurement of Air Defence Tactical Control Radar to strengthen the Air Defence Systems, especially the capabilities to detect slow, small and low-flying targets as well as surveillance, detection and tracking of different targets.
The AoN for procurement of Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft has been also granted by the DAC for strengthening the surveillance and interdiction capabilities of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) over the country’s vast maritime area.
The AoN under Buy (Indian) category has been accorded for procurement of Active Towed Array Sonar having capabilities to operate at low frequencies and various depths for long-range detections of adversary submarines.
The AoN has also been accorded for procurement of Heavy Weight Torpedoes for enhancing the attacking capabilities of Kalvari Class submarines.
"The DAC accorded AoN for procurement of Flight Refueller Aircraft for enhancing the operational capabilities and reach of the Indian Air Force. The AoN under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category for procurement of Software Defined Radios for the ICG has also been granted," the statement added.