DAC’s ₹79,000-crore Defence Approvals: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Matter
GS Paper Mapping
- GS-II: Governance (decision making in defence acquisitions, inter-ministerial coordination), International Relations (regional deterrence, maritime security).
- GS-III: Science & Technology (indigenous R&D, dual-use tech), Internal Security (border management, counter-infiltration), Defence (force modernisation, procurement, logistics).
The Big Picture in Plain English
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, has approved arms procurement proposals worth about ₹79,000 crore. This is called “Acceptance of Necessity” (AoN), the formal go-ahead that allows procurement to move ahead through vendor selection, price negotiation, trials, and finally induction.
The proposals cut across all three services — the Army, Navy, and Air Force — and span land systems, sea-based platforms, and air-domain technologies. Together they reflect India’s intent to strengthen its deterrence, modernise across multiple domains, and deepen reliance on indigenously developed technology wherever possible.
Army: What’s Being Bought and What It Does
Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II (NAMIS)
- What it is: India’s upgraded anti-tank guided missile, mounted on a tracked launcher vehicle for mobility in rough terrain.
- What it does: Designed to destroy tanks, bunkers, and fortified enemy positions with “fire-and-forget” guidance and top-attack ability.
- Why it matters: Enhances India’s capacity to counter enemy armour, reduces reliance on imports, and strengthens capabilities along the border.
Ground-Based Mobile ELINT System (GBMES)
- What it is: A mobile Electronic Intelligence system mounted on vehicles.
- What it does: Detects, analyses, and tracks enemy radars and other electronic signals, building a map of adversary electronic activity.
- Why it matters: Provides crucial “electronic situational awareness” in modern warfare, helping protect Indian aircraft, artillery, and forward troops.
High-Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) with Material-Handling Cranes
- What they are: Rugged trucks fitted with cranes for handling heavy military stores.
- What they do: Move ammunition, engineering stores, and artillery support faster and more efficiently, especially in difficult terrain.
- Why they matter: Logistics is the backbone of fighting power; these vehicles increase readiness and reliability.
Navy: What’s Being Bought and What It Does
Landing Platform Docks (LPDs)
- What they are: Large amphibious ships that can carry troops, tanks, helicopters, and landing craft.
- What they do: Support amphibious assaults, island defence, and disaster relief operations.
- Why they matter: Strengthen India’s presence in the Indian Ocean and enhance its ability to provide humanitarian aid in crises.
30 mm Naval Surface Gun (NSG) & Smart Ammunition for 76 mm Guns
- What they are: Fast-firing deck guns and precision “smart” shells.
- What they do: Handle piracy threats, swarming boat attacks, and low-intensity maritime encounters with better accuracy.
- Why they matter: Improve day-to-day security of sea lanes and protect patrol ships operating in contested waters.
Advanced Light Weight Torpedo (ALWT)
- What it is: An Indian-designed lightweight torpedo for anti-submarine warfare.
- What it does: Hunts down enemy submarines, including small and stealthy ones.
- Why it matters: Bolsters India’s ability to counter underwater threats and protect shipping lanes.
Electro-Optical Infra-Red Search & Track (EO-IRST)
- What it is: A passive sensor system that detects heat signatures.
- What it does: Identifies low-flying aircraft or surface targets without emitting radar waves.
- Why it matters: Enhances detection capability, especially in cluttered or radar-congested environments.
Air Force: What’s Being Bought and What It Does
Collaborative Long-Range Target Saturation/Destruction System (CLRTS/DS)
- What it is: A next-generation strike system expected to employ drones and autonomous technologies.
- What it does: Multiple platforms coordinate autonomously to detect, navigate, and strike deep targets, overwhelming enemy defences.
- Why it matters: Offers the Air Force a standoff strike option with high shock value, useful in a two-front war scenario.
How the Procurement Process Works
- AoN (Acceptance of Necessity): DAC approves that the forces need the system.
- RFP & Trials: Request for Proposals issued; vendors compete with prototypes and trials.
- Contract & Negotiation: Pricing and offset clauses are finalised.
- Production & Induction: Systems are built, tested, and delivered, sometimes over years.
This means the ₹79,000 crore is a long-term investment; the capabilities will phase in gradually.
Why These Systems, Why Now?
- Two-front scenario: To strengthen readiness against both China and Pakistan simultaneously.
- Maritime focus: LPDs and torpedoes show emphasis on Indian Ocean dominance.
- Air superiority: Drone swarms and long-range autonomous systems reflect the lessons from modern conflicts like Ukraine.
- Indigenous push: Indigenous torpedoes, missile systems, and smart ammo strengthen India’s defence industry base.
Industrial and Budgetary Impact
- Boost to domestic industry: Shipyards, missile makers, electronics firms, and vehicle manufacturers stand to benefit.
- Budget challenge: Defence modernisation competes with welfare and infrastructure demands; disciplined spending is crucial.
- Capability vs. cost: Effective induction requires parallel investment in training, maintenance, and doctrine.
Exam-Friendly One-Liners
- AoN is the first formal step in India’s defence procurement process.
- Nag Mk-II enhances anti-tank capability with top-attack and fire-and-forget features.
- GBMES is a “mobile electronic ear,” mapping enemy radars and emissions.
- LPDs are amphibious ships critical for sea-to-land operations and disaster relief.
- ALWT strengthens anti-submarine warfare by hunting stealthy submarines.
- CLRTS/DS reflects India’s entry into collaborative, autonomous long-range strike systems.
Summary
The DAC’s clearance of proposals worth ₹79,000 crore is a decisive step in modernising India’s armed forces. For the Army, it strengthens anti-tank firepower, electronic intelligence, and logistics. For the Navy, it adds amphibious capability, anti-submarine weapons, and modern sensors. For the Air Force, it pioneers a collaborative long-range drone-based strike capability. These acquisitions aim to give India credible deterrence, enhance readiness in land, sea, and air, and support the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
