Centre clears Rs 52,000 crore defence acquisition plan, boosts Army, Navy and Air Force capabilities

India has approved a ₹52,000 crore defence acquisition package featuring air defence systems, anti-drone technology, missiles, unmanned platforms and naval capabilities for all three armed services

PGurus Newsdesk

July 3, 2026

The Centre has approved defence purchases worth ₹52,000 crore, strengthening India's military with indigenous weapons, surveillance platforms, drones and advanced air defence systems

India clears a ₹52,000 crore defence procurement package to strengthen the Army, Navy and Air Force with next-generation military capabilities

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved defence procurement proposals worth nearly ₹52,000 crore, paving the way for the acquisition of advanced indigenous and strategic military systems for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The approvals, granted under the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) framework, mark the first stage of the defence procurement process and will now move towards tendering, commercial evaluation and contract negotiations.

A major focus of the latest approvals is strengthening India’s air defence network, counter-drone capabilities, surveillance systems and unmanned platforms.

For the Indian Army, the DAC cleared the procurement of the indigenous Akash Tarang anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) electronic warfare system, man-portable anti-tank guided missiles (MPATGM), Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems, Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS), Active Protection Systems (APS) for tanks, and jet-powered kamikaze drones.

The Akash Tarang system is designed to counter hostile drones, while the MPATGM will enhance infantry’s ability to neutralise armoured threats. The MRSAM and V-SHORADS will significantly strengthen the Army’s layered air defence capabilities, and APS will improve the survivability of battle tanks against anti-tank missiles. The jet-powered kamikaze drones are expected to boost precision strike and electronic warfare capabilities at lower operational costs.

For the Indian Navy, approvals include Multi Influence Ground Mines (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS), and a Land-Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for electric propulsion systems.

The new systems are expected to enhance maritime surveillance, improve situational awareness, strengthen sea-denial capabilities and support the development of next-generation naval platforms powered by electric propulsion.

The Indian Air Force also received approval to procure a Fixed-Wing High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS), a long-endurance platform capable of carrying out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, telecommunications and remote sensing over extended durations.

The latest approvals underline the government’s continued emphasis on indigenous defence manufacturing and the modernisation of the armed forces, with a strong focus on emerging technologies, self-reliance and enhanced operational preparedness across all three services.

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