Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: To strengthen the operational capabilities of the armed forces, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has cleared capital acquisition proposals worth about Rs79,000 crore The approvals, accorded during a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council recently, grant Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for a range of equipment and systems across the Army, Navy and Air Force.
For the Indian Army, AoN was approved for the procurement of Loiter Munition Systems for Artillery Regiments, Low Level Light Weight Radars, Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for the Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MRLS), and the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS) Mk-II.
According to the official statement, the loiter munition systems will enable precision strikes against tactical targets, while the lightweight radars will enhance the Army’s ability to detect and track small, low-flying unmanned aerial systems. The long-range guided rockets are expected to improve the range and accuracy of the Pinaka MRLS, allowing effective engagement of high-value targets. The upgraded IDDIS Mk-II will provide extended-range protection for vital military assets in both tactical battle areas and hinterland locations.
For the Indian Navy, the DAC cleared proposals for the procurement of Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs, High Frequency Software Defined Radio (HF SDR) Manpack systems, and the leasing of High- Altitude Long Range (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).