NEW DELHI: India has granted in-principle approval for the procurement of military equipment worth $5.46 billion, including missiles, electronic warfare systems and kamikaze drones, as part of efforts to enhance the operational capabilities of its armed forces.
The approval was given by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the defence minister and comprising the country’s top military officials, according to a government statement issued on Friday.
The statement said the proposed acquisitions, valued at approximately INR520 billion, were approved âin-principleâ. However, it did not specify a timeline for the purchases or clarify whether the equipment would be sourced domestically or imported.
The approved package includes anti-drone and electronic warfare systems, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, portable anti-tank missiles and a âjet based kamikaze drone systemâ for the Indian Army.
For the navy, the council approved the procurement of new naval mines, shipborne drones and a testing facility aimed at improving maritime defence and surveillance capabilities.
The Indian Air Force is also set to acquire a high-altitude unmanned aircraft platform for intelligence gathering and remote sensing missions.
Over the past decade, India has been working to diversify its defence suppliers by reducing its dependence on Russia while expanding purchases from countries such as the United States and France. At the same time, New Delhi has increased its focus on strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing.
India’s current defence budget stands at $85 billion.
The move comes after last year’s four-day military conflict with nuclear-armed rival Pakistan underscored the importance of further modernising India’s military capabilities.
New Delhi is also accelerating the expansion of its naval fleet in response to China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean. In December, the country initiated plans to acquire at least 75 ships and submarines, with most expected to be built domestically.
Earlier this year, Indian authorities also approved defence acquisitions worth $39 billion, including the purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France.
