New Delhi: DAC Clears ₹52,000-Cr Proposals
Akash Tarang will provide effective anti-UAV protection to the Army formations: Reports
NEW DELHI: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by the defence minister Rajnath Singh, on Friday gave the initial nod to acquisition proposals worth ₹52,000 crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force. The approvals include the procurement of kamikaze drones, man-portable anti-tank guided missile systems (MPATGM), medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) weapon systems and very short-range air defence systems (V-Shorads).
For the Army, the DAC accorded acceptance of necessity (AoN), which is in-principle administrative approval, for the procurement of the anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) electronic warfare system “Akash Tarang”, man-portable anti-tank guided missile systems, medium-range surface-to-air missile weapon systems, very short-range air defence systems, active protection systems for tanks and the jet-based Kamikaze drone systems.
Akash Tarang will provide effective anti-UAV protection to the Army formations. The MPATGM will enhance the potential of the infantry to counter mechanised threats like tanks, especially against China at the high-altitude northern borders. The MRSAM system provides medium-range air defence against a variety of stand-off aerial threats.
The V-Shorads with multispectral sensing will enhance the countermeasure resilience and effectiveness of the Army. The V-Shorads are man-portable air defence systems and are meant for neutralising low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
The active protection system will be capable of improving the defence mechanism of tanks and enhancing their survivability. The jet-based kamikaze drones provide better electronic warfare capability with greater lethality and survivability while also being cost-effective.
For the Navy, approval was given for the procurement of the multi-influence ground mine (MIGM), the naval shipborne unmanned aerial system (NSUAS) and the setting-up of the land-based testing facility (LBTF) for the electric propulsion system.
The MIGM will deny adversaries the freedom of manoeuvre. The NSUAS, drones which can fly from ships and equipped with advanced sensors, will enhance situational awareness of the Navy and also help in target acquisition. The LBTF will meet the testing requirements for motors and associated propulsion systems of the Indian naval assets.
For the Air Force, the approval was accorded for the procurement of a fixed-wing-based high-altitude pseudo-satellite (FW-HAPS). The FW-HAPS will carry out persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, telecommunication and remote sensing for the Air Force.