Swarm Drones, Bulletproof Jackets: Defence Ministry's Nod To Arms Procurement Proposals Worth Rs 28,732 Cr

4 lakhs of Close Quarter Battle Carbines for the Services and procurement of Autonomous Surveillance and Armed Drone Swarms were accorded by the DAC in the meeting. 

Union Defence Ministry on Tuesday approved arms procurement proposals worth Rs 28,732 crore, giving a further boost to "AtmaNirbharta" in country's defence. During the meeting, chaired by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Bullet Proof Jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection considering the demand of enhanced protection against the threat of enemy snippers to soldiers deployed along the Line of Control.

Around 4 lakhs of Close Quarter Battle Carbines for the Services and procurement of Autonomous Surveillance and Armed Drone Swarms were also been accorded by the DAC in the meeting. 

"Considering the demand of enhanced protection against the threat of enemy snippers to our troops deployed along the Line of Control, and in close combat operations in counter-terrorism scenario, DAC accorded AoN for Bullet Proof Jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection. To combat the current complex paradigm of conventional and hybrid warfare and counter-terrorism at the LAC and Eastern Borders, AoN for induction of approx. 4 lakhs of Close Quarter Battle Carbines for the Services have also been accorded by the DAC," Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"Drone technology proved to be a force multiplier in military operations. Accordingly, to augment the Indian Army’s capability in modern warfare, AoN for procurement of Autonomous Surveillance and Armed Drone Swarms has been accorded by the DAC under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category," the statement added. 

DAC also approved the Navy’s proposal to procure an upgraded 1250KW capacity Marine Gas Turbine Generator for power generation application onboard Kolkata class of ships through Indian Industry. 

"DAC also approved the Navy's proposal to procure an upgraded 1250KW capacity Marine Gas Turbine Generator for power generation application onboard Kolkata class of ships through Indian Industry. This will give a major boost to the indigenous manufacturing of gas turbine generators," the statement read further.  

Additionally, procurement of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard was also approved by the DAC in the meeting.

Earlier in the day, the Defence Ministry also stated that it has fast-tracked the process of indigenisation of software-defined radios (SDRs) at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur.

The process has been fast-tracked to fulfil the increasing demand by the Armed Forces across a broad spectrum of operations.

"Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, while according high priority to the indigenisation of SDR technology, stated that it will be an important milestone towards achieving the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) in the field of secured radio communication," the ministry's statement noted.

SDRs are used by the Indian armed forces to ensure secure communications.