India clears defence purchase plan worth Rs 84,328 crore

India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved proposals to acquire defence equipment, including infantry combat vehicles, light tanks and missile systems, worth Rs 84,328 crore, the defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.

Of the total, more than 97 per cent of the procurement will be from indigenous sources.

"The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Rajnath Singh, has accorded approval for Acceptance of Necessity for 24 Capital Acquisition Proposals," said the defence ministry release.


These proposals include six for Indian Army, six for Indian Air Force, 10 for Indian Navy and two for Indian Coast Guard for a total value of Rs 84,328 crore, it said.

Notably, 21 proposals worth Rs 82,127 crore (97.4%), are approved for procurement from indigenous sources.

This unprecedented initiative of DAC will not only modernise the Armed Forces but also provide substantial boost to the defence industry to achieve the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, it added.

The AoNs accorded will equip the Indian Army with platforms and equipment such as Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles, Light Tanks and Mounted Gun System providing a quantum jump to Indian Army’s operational preparedness. Proposals approved also includes procurement of Ballistic Helmets, with enhanced protection level.

The light tank proposal of the Army, called Project Zorawar, will see the delivery of an indigenous tank being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation with Larsen and Toubro entering service as early as next year. The need for such tanks was flagged off after the build-up of troops in eastern Ladakh in 2020.


For the Navy, a number of projects cleared includes next generation offshore patrol vessels, anti ship missiles, multi-purpose vessels as well as high endurance autonomous vessels. These will mainly see a competition between state-owned shipyards and L&T's shipbuilding division. Approvals for procurement of Naval Anti-Ship Missiles, Multi-Purpose Vessels and High Endurance Autonomous Vehicles will further enhance maritime strength.

The IAF will be able to induct a new range of missile system, long-range guided bombs, range augmentation kit for conventional bombs and advanced surveillance systems.