DAC clears defence procurement proposals worth Rs 52,000 Cr
New Delhi, July 3 (TNT): The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about Rs 52,000 crore to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of the AKASH TARANG Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Electronic Warfare System, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Weapon System, Very Short Range Air Defence System (V-SHORADS), Active Protection System for Tanks, and Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System.
In a release, the Defence Ministry said AKASH TARANG would provide effective protection against hostile drones, while the MPATGM would enhance the infantry’s capability to counter mechanised threats.
The MRSAM and V-SHORADS systems would strengthen the Army’s air defence capability against a wide range of aerial threats.
The Active Protection System would improve tank survivability, while the jet-based kamikaze drones would enhance electronic warfare capability with greater lethality and cost-effectiveness.
For the Indian Navy, the Council approved procurement of Multi Influence Ground Mines (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS) and the establishment of a Land-Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for electric propulsion systems.
According to the Ministry, the MIGM would enhance the Navy’s capability to deny manoeuvrability to adversary vessels, while the NSUAS would improve maritime surveillance and situational awareness.
The testing facility would support the development and validation of propulsion systems for future naval platforms.
For the Indian Air Force, the DAC approved the procurement of Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS) systems and other equipment.
The FW-HAPS platform will provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities, significantly enhancing the Air Force’s operational reach and situational awareness, the Ministry added.
TNT KS
