Rs.79,000 Cr Defence Buys Get DAC Approval
An unspecified number of RPAS is being taken on lease for continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance over the Indian Ocean region, the ministry said
New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Rajnath Singh, on Monday accorded initial approval to defence procurement proposals worth about Rs 79,000 crore for the three services.
The approvals include loiter munition (kamikaze drones) for the Indian Army, leasing of High Altitude Long Range (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for surveillance by the Indian Navy, 200-km-range Astra Mk-II air-to-air missiles for fighter aircraft, and SPICE-1000 long-range guidance kits, which were used during the 2019 Balakot strikes by Mirage-2000 jets.
The DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of loiter munition systems for Army artillery regiments. It also cleared the acquisition of Low Level Light Weight Radars, 120-km-range Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for the Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MRLS), and the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDD&IS) Mk-II.
The loiter munition system will enable precision strikes on tactical targets, while the radars will detect and track small, low-flying unmanned aerial systems. The guided rockets will enhance the range and accuracy of the Pinaka MRLS, and the upgraded drone detection system will protect vital assets in tactical battle areas and the hinterland.
For the Navy, the DAC approved AoN for the procurement of Bollard Pull (BP) tugs, High Frequency Software Defined Radios (HF SDR) Manpack, and the leasing of HALE RPAS. The HALE RPAS will provide continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, strengthening maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region. BP tugs will assist ships and submarines in berthing and manoeuvring in confined harbour waters, while the HF SDR will improve long-range secure communications during operations.
For the Air Force, AoN was accorded for the procurement of an Automatic Take-off and Landing Recording System, Astra Mk-II missiles, a Full Mission Simulator, and SPICE-1000 guidance kits. The Astra Mk-II missiles will enhance beyond-visual-range combat capability, while SPICE-1000 will strengthen long-range precision strike. The recording system will improve flight safety through high-definition, all-weather data capture, and the simulator will augment pilot training in a cost-effective and safe manner.
