Defence Acquisition Council Approves ₹2.12 Lakh Crore Defence Procurement

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Key takeaways

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared defence purchases worth ₹2.12 lakh crore, with 82% reserved for Indian vendors.
Major clearances include Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS) and counter-drone systems for the army, along with Active Offboard Decoy Systems (AODS) for the navy.
The air force will deploy Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar Systems to monitor severe weather in forward border sectors.
India achieved a historic peak in domestic defence production at ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, growing by 15.6%.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) held a meeting under the leadership of the Defence Minister.
The council granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various defence procurement proposals worth about ₹2.12 lakh crore.
Domestic defense companies will supply roughly 82% of these total orders.

An Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) serves as the formal starting signal in military buying processes.
This approval simply confirms the official need for military hardware and does not mean final contracts are signed.

For the Indian Army, approved equipment includes High Mobility Vehicles, self-propelled tracked gun systems, and Light Multi-Role Helicopters.
The army will also get Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS), counter-drone systems, and long-range drones.
These Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and surveillance drones will block incoming aerial attacks and improve battlefield intelligence.
For the Indian Navy, the council cleared Active Offboard Decoy Systems (AODS) to shield warships from anti-ship missile strikes.
For the Indian Air Force, approved purchases include helicopters, air defence systems, and specialized weapons.
The air force will also receive Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar Systems to track local weather conditions in remote border locations.

These huge purchases will drive local military manufacturing and boost homegrown technology development.
India reached a record yearly defence production value of ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
This achievement represents a 15.6% growth compared to the previous financial year.
Relying on domestic factories reduces foreign weapon imports, improves military readiness, and advances the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence.