DAC clears Rs 52,000 crore defence acquisitions

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about Rs 52,000 crore to strengthen the combat readiness and operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. The approvals cover a wide range of advanced military platforms and systems for the Army, Navy and Air Force. For the Indian Army, the DAC cleared the procurement of the AKASH TARANG anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (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 systems.
The Ministry of Defence said AKASH TARANG will provide effective protection against hostile drones for Army formations, while the MPATGM will enhance the infantry’s capability to counter mechanised threats. The MRSAM system will bolster medium-range air defence against a range of stand-off aerial threats. The V-SHORADS, equipped with multi-spectral sensing technology, is expected to improve resilience against countermeasures and enhance the Army’s air defence capability. The Active Protection System will improve the survivability of tanks by strengthening their defensive mechanisms, while the jet-based kamikaze drones will offer enhanced electronic warfare capability with greater lethality, survivability and cost-effectiveness.
For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the 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 will restrict an adversary’s freedom of manoeuvre at sea, while the NSUAS, equipped with advanced sensors, will significantly enhance the Navy’s situational awareness. The proposed testing facility will support the evaluation of motors and associated propulsion systems for future naval platforms. 
The Indian Air Force received approval to procure Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS) along with other equipment. The FW-HAPS platforms are designed to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities, strengthening the Air Force’s long-endurance operational reach. The defence ministry said the acquisitions are aimed at enhancing the combat preparedness of the armed forces through the induction of advanced indigenous and next-generation defence technologies.