The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved 10 major proposals on Thursday to procure indigenous military hardware worth Rs 1.05 lakh crore.
The greenlighted acquisitions include Surface-to-Air Missiles, Armoured Recovery Vehicles, Electronic Warfare Systems, and an Integrated Common Inventory Management System for the Tri-Services.
“These procurements will boost mobility, air defence capabilities, supply chain efficiency, and overall operational preparedness of the Armed Forces,” the Defence Ministry said in an official statement.
Indian Navy to gain critical equipment
The Council also approved the procurement of Moored Mines, Mine Counter Measure Vessels, Super Rapid Gun Mounts, and Submersible Autonomous Vessels, aimed at improving naval and merchant vessel safety.
These systems will significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to detect and mitigate underwater threats.
To further strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence, the DAC accorded all approvals under the Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.
The decision aligns with the government’s Make-in-India initiative, promoting indigenous innovation and production.
India’s defence production and exports hit a record high
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India’s defence production reached an all-time high of ₹1.46 lakh crore in FY 2024–25.
“A decade ago, production stood at ₹43,000 crore. Today, it has more than tripled, with the private sector contributing over ₹32,000 crore,” Singh stated at the CII Annual Summit.
He further revealed that defence exports soared to ₹24,000 crore, up from a mere ₹600–700 crore a decade ago.
Indian defence systems, sub-systems, components, and services now reach nearly 100 countries.
MSMEs power India’s defence backbone
Over 16,000 MSMEs are now involved in India’s defence sector.
“These enterprises form the backbone of our supply chain. They’re not just helping us achieve self-reliance but also creating employment for lakhs,” Singh noted.
Highlighting the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, Singh said it will be the first time that private sector companies will work alongside public sector units in a mega defence project.
“This will provide a new thrust to indigenous capabilities and offer fresh opportunities for private participation,” he said.
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