The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the Ministry of Defence's highest decision-making body on capital procurement, will meet on Friday to consider all defence acquisition proposals worth Rs. 1 lakh crore. The meeting will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and will pave the way for several major modernisation projects to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.
The main agenda of the meeting is the grant of Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first and most crucial step in India's defence procurement process. AoN is not a purchase order but formally acknowledges the armed forces' operational requirement, then the acquisition process goes ahead through tendering, technical evaluation and contract negotiations.
Much of the proposals will focus on the Indian Army, which has intensified its modernisation efforts to overcome the changing security challenges in India’s northern and western borders. The Army has been focused on improving mobility, firepower, air defence and force protection and in line with recent global conflicts.
One of the most likely proposals to be discussed is the procurement of additional K-9 Vajra self-propelled artillery guns. These indigenously manufactured 155 mm tracked howitzers are already in service and have proven capable of operating in an extremely demanding environment which includes the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh and the desert areas of the western front. And with their precision on long range, fast deployment and mobility they are a key component of the Army's artillery modernisation programme.
The council also will consider loitering munitions, or kamikaze drones. The advanced weapon systems are able to remain above a target area for long periods of time to hit it with precision. They have become increasingly important today as they can attack high-value targets while minimising personnel risks.
The increasing use of loitering munitions has become the norm in combat around the world and has shown its capability in precision strikes, intelligence gathering and battlefield observation.
The DAC's decisions on Friday are expected to boost India's military modernisation programme, and will be focused on developing indigenous capabilities and improving the combat readiness of the armed forces in a rapidly changing security environment.
