Govt approves Rs 52,000-crore defence purchases to sharpen combat readiness

Newdelhi,UPDATED: Jul 4, 2026 07:32 IST

The Defence Acquisition Council has given in-principle administrative approval to a range of proposals worth nearly Rs 52,000 crore to strengthen the combat capabilities of the armed forces.

The council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity to the proposals, which cover key requirements of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, according to a defence ministry statement.

For the Army, approval has been granted for the procurement of the anti-unmanned aerial vehicles electronic warfare system 'Akash Tarnag', man portable anti-tank guided missile systems, the medium-range surface-to-air missile weapon system, a very short range air defence system, an active protection system for tanks, and a jet-based kamikaze drone system. The ministry said 'Akash Tarnag' will provide effective anti-UAV protection to Army formations. The MPATGM will enhance the infantry's ability to counter mechanised threats, while the MRSAM system will provide medium-range air defence against a variety of stand-off aerial threats. It said V-SHORADS, with multi-spectral sensing, will improve countermeasure resilience and the Army's effectiveness. "The active protection aystem will be capable of improving the defence mechanism of tanks and enhancing their survivability. The jet-based Kamikaze drones will provide better electronic warfare capability, with greater lethality and survivability while also being cost-effective," the ministry said.

For the Navy, approval was given for the procurement of a Multi-Influence Ground Mine, a Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System and the setting up of a land-based testing facility for an electric propulsion system. The ministry said the MIGM will deny freedom of manoeuvre to the adversary, the NSUAS, equipped with advanced sensors, will improve the Navy's situational awareness, and the LBTF will meet testing requirements for motors and associated propulsion systems of Indian naval assets. For the Air Force, approval was accorded for the procurement of a fixed-wing-based high altitude pseudo satellite and other proposals. "The FW-HAPS will carry out persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, telecommunication and remote sensing for the Indian Air Force," the statement said.

Overall, the approvals cover a wide set of weapons, surveillance platforms and support systems across the three services as part of the government's plan to strengthen the armed forces' operational capability.

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