New Delhi: India is poised to take another significant step towards strengthening its defence preparedness, with the Defence Ministry expected to approve a series of major procurement proposals worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore at the upcoming meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The meeting, scheduled for July 3, is expected to focus on enhancing the operational capabilities of the armed forces while reinforcing the government’s emphasis on indigenous defence manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The DAC meeting carries added significance as it will be the first to be attended by the country’s new top military leadership. The session will include Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, who are expected to review several critical acquisition proposals aimed at modernising India’s defence infrastructure.
Among the most prominent proposals is the procurement of the indigenous Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MP-ATGM), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Indian Army is expected to acquire 100 missile launchers, 2,300 missiles and five training simulators as part of the project. The contract, estimated to be worth more than Rs 2,600 crore, is likely to be executed by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Defence officials are also expected to explore additional private-sector production partners to accelerate manufacturing and meet future operational requirements.
Another major proposal before the council involves the acquisition of 600 Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) precision-guided air-to-ground munitions. Originally developed by French defence company Safran, the advanced weapon systems are proposed to be manufactured in India by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), further supporting domestic defence production. The estimated value of the procurement is around Rs 2,400 crore.
The Hammer bombs were initially inducted by the Indian Air Force under emergency procurement measures following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with China. The precision-guided munitions are capable of striking targets with high accuracy across varied terrains and are expected to significantly improve India’s precision-strike capabilities. The Indian Air Force plans to deploy them on its Rafale fighter jets as well as the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, while the Indian Navy is expected to integrate the weapons with its Rafale Marine aircraft.
The DAC is also likely to consider the induction of Russian-origin Verba Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS) for the Army Air Defence Corps. These advanced missiles, regarded as successors to the Igla systems currently in service, are proposed to be manufactured in India by Adani Defence and Aerospace. Their induction is expected to enhance the Army’s capability to counter low-flying aerial threats, including helicopters, drones and aircraft.
In addition to these major acquisitions, the council is expected to examine proposals relating to fixed-wing high-altitude pseudo satellites, naval shipborne aerial systems, software-defined radios, kamikaze drones, drone detection technologies and upgrades for the Scorpene-class submarine fleet. These projects reflect India’s growing focus on network-centric warfare, surveillance, unmanned systems and maritime security.
The anticipated approvals are expected to provide fresh momentum to India’s military modernisation programme by combining advanced technology, enhanced combat readiness and greater self-reliance in defence production. If cleared, the projects will further strengthen the operational capabilities of the armed forces while supporting the long-term objective of building a robust indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.
