Warships, missiles and spy planes: Here's what Rs 1 lakh crore is buying for Indian armed forces

In a major push towards military modernisation, the Ministry of Defence has approved the first step of procurement for ten major projects worth over ₹1 lakh crore. The preliminary approvals, known as Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), cover a range of equipment including warships, missile systems, and surveillance aircraft. These projects are part of efforts to strengthen India's defence preparedness across land, air, and sea.

Warship project gets biggest share

The largest of the approved projects is for the indigenous construction of 12 Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), estimated to cost ₹44,000 crore. According to official sources quoted by TOI, the vessels will take around ten years to build. Each ship, weighing around 900 to 1,000 tonnes, will be equipped to detect and neutralise underwater mines that may threaten shipping lanes and ports.

Currently, the Indian Navy does not have dedicated minesweeping ships and uses limited clip-on systems on existing vessels. This new project aims to fill that gap, especially as maritime activity increases in the Indian Ocean Region, including joint naval activities by China and Pakistan.


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Quick-reaction air defence for Army and Air Force

The Defence Ministry has also approved a ₹36,000 crore procurement of Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) systems. These DRDO-developed systems will be deployed in three regiments for the Army and three squadrons for the Air Force.

The missiles are capable of intercepting enemy aircraft, drones, and helicopters within a 30-kilometre range. According to defence sources, the Army Air Defence (AAD) requires 11 QRSAM regiments in total. These systems are expected to enhance India’s air defence network, which played a role in Operation Sindoor against drones and missiles used during hostilities from May 7 to May 10.

Precision surveillance aircraft for Air Force

Another approval covers the purchase of three ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) aircraft, with a budget of ₹10,000 crore. These aircraft will support high-precision targeting by detecting enemy positions and assets on the ground.

The platforms will carry DRDO-developed sensors, including synthetic aperture radars and optical imaging systems. These systems will give the Indian Air Force real-time intelligence and greater awareness of enemy movements and positions.

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New underwater and naval systems approved

The Ministry has also cleared a proposal to procure semi-submersible autonomous vessels for surveillance. These ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) platforms will be developed under the Make-II category, which means they will be built by industry with no upfront government funding.

Two more naval approvals include super rapid gun mounts (SRGMs)—the 76mm main guns used on surface ships—and DRDO-designed moored naval mines that can be triggered by sound, magnetic, or pressure signals when enemy ships pass close by.

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Other systems and integrated inventory upgrades

Additional clearances include the procurement of armoured recovery vehicles and electronic warfare systems aimed at increasing operational support and battlefield endurance. A tri-Service integrated inventory management system has also been approved to improve coordination and logistics among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

No specific dates have been announced for when these projects will be finalised. As per the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), each AoN must go through multiple steps including technical assessment, financial approvals, and vendor selection.

(With inputs from TOI)