The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, has granted approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for various capital acquisition proposals totaling Rs 84,560 crore. In a commitment to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance), the approvals on February 16, 2024, emphasize the procurement of equipment from Indian vendors.
Under the Buy {Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)} category, the DAC approved AoN for the procurement of a new generation of Anti-tank mines with seismic sensors and provisions for remote deactivation, including additional safety features. In a move to enhance operational efficiency and dominance in the Tactical Battle Area for engaging Beyond Visual Line of Sight targets, AoN under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category was granted for the procurement of the Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munition System.
For strengthening Air Defence Systems, particularly capabilities to detect slow, small, and low-flying targets, as well as surveillance, detection & tracking of various targets, AoN has been accorded for the procurement of Air Defence Tactical Control Radar under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
DAC granted AoN for the procurement of Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft through the Buy and Make category, aiming to enhance the surveillance and interdiction capabilities of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) across the vast maritime area.
In a bid to stay ahead of potential threats posed by adversaries, AoN under Buy (Indian) category was granted for the procurement of Active Towed Array Sonar, capable of operating at low frequencies and various depths for long-range detections of adversary submarines. Additionally, AoN was granted for the procurement of Heavy Weight Torpedoes to enhance the attacking capabilities of Kalvari Class submarines. The sustainment support through Follow On Support (FOS) and Repair Replenishment support through Follow On Supply Support (FOSS) for 24 MH60R aircraft under the Foreign Military Sale route with the US Government also received AoN.
The DAC approved AoN for the procurement of Flight Refueler Aircraft to enhance the operational capabilities and reach of the Indian Air Force. Under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, AoN was granted for the procurement of Software Defined Radios for the ICG. This addresses the ICG’s need for high-speed communication with secure networking capability for seamless information exchange between ICG and Indian Navy units.
To foster a defense start-up ecosystem and encourage the procurement of advanced technologies from start-ups and MSMEs developed under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Technology Development Fund schemes, the DAC has approved amendments in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, focusing on benchmarking, cost computation, payment schedule, and procurement quantity. These amendments aim to provide incentives and create a supportive business environment for start-ups and MSMEs under the iDEX and TDF schemes, aligning with the spirit of ‘Ease of Doing Business.
