DAC okays defence procurement proposals worth ₹79K cr to boost capabilities

The DAC cleared proposals to acquire loitering munition systems for artillery units, low-level lightweight radars, and long-range guided rocket ammunition

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Monday approved the need to procure defence equipment worth about ₹79,000 crore for the armed forces.

 

Commenting on the move, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "The DAC meeting held today accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various proposals of the three Services amounting to a total of about ₹79,000 crore. The ministry is working tirelessly to strengthen India’s defence preparedness. The decisions taken today will help in enhancing operational capabilities of the Armed Forces." 

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting held today accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various proposals of the three Services amounting to a total of about Rs 79,000 crore.  The MoD under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi is working tirelessly to strengthen…

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 29, 2025

 

These are the major defence purchases approved for each sector:

Indian Army

The DAC cleared the purchase of new equipment for the Army, including loitering munitions for artillery units, lightweight radars to track low-flying targets, long-range guided rockets for the Pinaka rocket system, and the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mark-II to spot and stop enemy drones.

Indian Navy

For the Navy, approval was given to buy bollard pull tugboats, which help warships and submarines move safely in harbours. The DAC also cleared the purchase of high-frequency radios for secure long-distance communication during operations.

 

Additionally, the Navy will lease high-altitude, long-range unmanned aircraft, which will help in round-the-clock surveillance and monitoring of the Indian Ocean region.

Indian Air Force

The Air Force received approval to buy systems and weapons to improve safety, training, and combat strength. These include an automatic system to record aircraft take-offs and landings in all weather, Astra Mark-II missiles with longer firing range, a full mission simulator for Tejas fighter pilots, and SPICE-1000 guidance kits to improve long-range precision strikes.

Defence had largest allocation

In the last three Budgets, the defence sector emerged as the single largest area of expenditure. According to the data from PRS Legislative, actual spending for the sector in 2023-24 stood at ₹6,09,504 crore. This rose to ₹6,41,060 crore in the Revised Estimates (RE) for 2024-25 and is budgeted at ₹6,81,210 crore in 2025-26.