The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) on July 3, 2026 for a set of military procurement proposals worth about ₹52,000 crore covering all three services. The approvals span six major systems for the Indian Army, three for the Indian Navy, and one cutting-edge platform for the Indian Air Force, with an overwhelming focus on indigenous development under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. This is among the largest single tranches of defence approvals in recent years and signals a decisive shift toward self-reliance in meeting India’s evolving battlefield requirements.
What Is the Defence Acquisition Council?
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is the highest decision-making body in the Ministry of Defence for capital acquisitions. It was constituted in 2001 based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on Reforming the National Security System, which was set up after the Kargil War. The DAC is chaired by the Defence Minister and includes the Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Defence Secretary, the Secretary (Defence Production), and the Secretary (Defence R&D) among its members.
The DAC grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), which is the first formal step in the defence procurement process. AoN signifies in-principle administrative approval that a particular equipment or system is needed by the armed forces and that funds have been allocated. It does not amount to a signed contract. After AoN, the process moves to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage, followed by technical evaluations, trials, and price negotiations with shortlisted vendors. The DAC also categorises acquisition proposals into “Buy”, “Buy and Make”, and “Make” categories and approves the 15-year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) for the forces.
Approvals for the Indian Army
The Indian Army received the largest share of the approvals with six distinct systems cleared for procurement. These are designed to address gaps in air defence, anti-tank warfare, force protection, and electronic warfare.
AKASH TARANG Anti-UAV Electronic Warfare System
AKASH TARANG is an indigenously developed electronic warfare system designed specifically to detect, track, jam, and neutralise hostile drones. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with production support from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and private defence MSMEs, the system uses a three-tier detection mechanism. Radio frequency sniffers identify drone communication signals, GPS and GNSS jamming disrupts navigation, and autonomous monitoring enables continuous tracking.
The system can be deployed in vehicle-mounted, fixed-site, and man-portable configurations, making it adaptable across diverse battlefield environments. It is particularly effective against reconnaissance drones, swarm drones, and kamikaze UAVs that have emerged as major threats in modern conflicts. AKASH TARANG will be integrated into India’s broader Sudarshan Chakra air defence shield and will complement existing systems such as the L-70 air defence guns and Akash missile batteries.
Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Systems
The MPATGM is a shoulder-launched, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile designed to be carried and operated by a single infantry soldier. It enhances the infantry’s ability to destroy enemy tanks and armoured vehicles at stand-off ranges. The system is being indigenously developed by DRDO and will significantly improve the combat capability of foot soldiers against mechanised threats along the borders. The missile features a tandem warhead design to defeat explosive reactive armour (ERA) on modern battle tanks.
Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Weapon System
The MRSAM is a medium-range air defence system jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) . It provides protection against a variety of stand-off aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones at medium ranges. The system uses an advanced phased array radar and vertically launched missiles to engage multiple targets simultaneously. MRSAM is already in service with the Indian Air Force, and its induction into the Army will add a crucial layer to India’s integrated air defence architecture.
Very Short Range Air Defence System (V-SHORADS)
The V-SHORADS is a man-portable air defence system designed to engage aerial threats at very short ranges. Equipped with multi-spectral sensing capabilities, it offers high resistance to counter-measures and improves battlefield survivability. The system fills the critical gap in close-in air defence, protecting forward-deployed troops from helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and drones.
Active Protection System for Tanks
The Active Protection System (APS) is designed to enhance the survivability of armoured vehicles by detecting and intercepting incoming threats such as rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-tank guided missiles before they hit the tank. The system uses radar or sensor arrays to track incoming projectiles and deploys countermeasures to destroy or deflect them. This is a significant upgrade for India’s tank fleet, which currently lacks such advanced force protection technology.
Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System
The Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System, also known as a loitering munition, is an unmanned aerial vehicle that carries an explosive warhead and waits over a target area before executing a precision strike. Unlike conventional drones, these are designed as one-way attack weapons that deliberately crash into their target. The jet-powered variant offers higher speed, better electronic warfare resilience, and greater survivability compared to propeller-driven loitering munitions. It provides a cost-effective precision strike capability against high-value enemy assets.
Approvals for the Indian Navy
The DAC cleared three proposals for the Indian Navy, covering underwater warfare, aerial surveillance, and propulsion technology testing.
Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM)
The Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) is an indigenously developed advanced naval mine designed to counter modern stealth ships and submarines. Unlike conventional mines that rely on a single trigger mechanism, the MIGM uses a combination of magnetic, acoustic, and pressure sensors to detect and identify targets. This multi-influence detection makes it extremely difficult for enemy vessels to evade, as no stealth design can fully mask all three signatures simultaneously.
The MIGM was developed by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, with support from the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune and the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh. Production has been entrusted to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Visakhapatnam and Apollo Microsystems Limited in Hyderabad. The mine successfully completed combat firing trials in May 2025 and is now ready for induction. It can be deployed by aircraft, ships, or submarines to deny enemy freedom of manoeuvre in strategic maritime chokepoints.
Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS)
The Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS) is a rotary-wing or vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone designed to operate from naval warships. Equipped with advanced sensors including electro-optical and infrared cameras, maritime patrol radar, and automatic identification system (AIS) receivers, the NSUAS will significantly enhance the Navy’s situational awareness over vast ocean areas. It will be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), sea lane monitoring, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) patrol, anti-piracy operations, and search and rescue missions.
Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion Systems
The DAC also approved the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) dedicated to electric propulsion systems for future naval platforms. This facility will enable comprehensive testing and validation of electric motors, power management systems, and associated propulsion technologies before their integration into Indian Navy ships. The LBTF supports India’s long-term goal of developing all-electric or hybrid-electric propulsion for next-generation warships, aligning with global trends in naval propulsion technology.
Approval for the Indian Air Force
Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS)
The Indian Air Force received approval for the procurement of Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS) , a next-generation aerial platform that operates in the stratosphere at altitudes of approximately 18 to 23 kilometres, well above commercial air traffic. These solar-powered, fixed-wing unmanned aircraft can remain airborne for months using solar panels that charge high-density batteries during the day to sustain flight through the night.
Unlike conventional satellites that orbit at least 200 kilometres above Earth and are expensive to launch, HAPS platforms function as persistent surveillance assets that can remain stationary over a specific area for extended durations. They will be used for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) , secure telecommunications, and remote sensing. For the IAF, this means continuous real-time monitoring of strategic borders and sensitive regions without the limitations of satellite revisit times or the endurance constraints of conventional UAVs.
The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been developing indigenous HAPS technology. A scaled-down prototype with an 11-metre wingspan has already been test flown to an altitude of 7.5 kilometres with over 10 hours of endurance. The full-scale platform is expected to have a wingspan of 33 metres, comparable to a Boeing 737, and a target endurance of 90 days. Private players such as NewSpace Research and Technologies and Dashagriv Aerospace are also developing HAPS solutions through the iDEX initiative of the Defence Ministry.
Significance of the Approvals
The latest DAC approvals represent one of the most comprehensive defence modernisation packages cleared in a single meeting in 2026. Taken together, the acquisitions address vulnerabilities that were exposed during recent military operations, particularly the threat posed by low-cost drones and loitering munitions.
The approvals carry several strategic implications. First, nearly all the cleared systems are designed and developed indigenously, reinforcing the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push in defence manufacturing. Most systems involve DRDO as the lead developer with public sector units like BEL and BDL, alongside private sector partners such as Apollo Microsystems, as production partners.
Second, the approvals span every domain of warfare. The Army gets enhanced ground-based air defence, anti-tank, and electronic warfare capabilities. The Navy strengthens its underwater warfare and maritime surveillance. The IAF acquires a persistent high-altitude surveillance platform that bridges the gap between UAVs and satellites.
Third, the focus on unmanned and counter-unmanned systems is notable. With the AKASH TARANG anti-UAV system, jet-based kamikaze drones, and NSUAS, India is building a comprehensive ecosystem to both counter and deploy drone technology across all three services.
The AoN represents only the first stage of procurement. Actual contracts will follow after the RFP stage, technical trials, and commercial negotiations. However, the approval signals clear intent and budget allocation, paving the way for modernisation of India’s defence forces.
Key Takeaways
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for proposals worth ₹52,000 crore on July 3, 2026.
- The DAC was constituted in 2001 following the Group of Ministers on Reforming the National Security System after the Kargil War.
- For the Indian Army, approvals include the AKASH TARANG Anti-UAV Electronic Warfare System, MPATGM, MRSAM, V-SHORADS, Active Protection System for tanks, and a Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System.
- For the Indian Navy, approvals cover the Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS), and a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for electric propulsion.
- For the Indian Air Force, the procurement of Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS) was approved, capable of operating in the stratosphere at 18-23 km altitude for extended durations.
- The MIGM uses magnetic, acoustic, and pressure sensors working in combination and is developed by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam.
