The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday accorded Acceptance of Necessity for capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 52,000 crore, marking one of the more significant procurement decisions taken this year to bolster the operational readiness of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The approvals span a wide range of platforms, including anti-drone systems, missiles, kamikaze drones, naval unmanned aerial systems and high-altitude surveillance technology, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council on July 3, 2026, and covers procurement proposals across all three branches of the armed forces. The Acceptance of Necessity, commonly referred to as AoN, is the in-principle administrative approval granted under the defence procurement framework before any formal acquisition process is initiated. It represents the first formal step in a structured, multi-stage procedure that governs how the Indian military acquires equipment, weapons systems and platforms from domestic and international sources.
Army Gets Air Defence and Anti-Drone Systems
For the Indian Army, the Council cleared six distinct procurement proposals aimed at enhancing both offensive and defensive capabilities. Chief among these is the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Electronic Warfare System, named "Akash Tarang," which is designed to provide protection to Army formations against unmanned aerial threats. The system is intended to counter the growing use of drones in modern combat, a concern that has taken on heightened importance following recent regional conflicts where drone warfare has played a decisive role.
Alongside this, the Army will procure Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems, intended to strengthen infantry capability against mechanised threats from adversary forces. The Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile weapon system was also approved, which the Ministry stated would provide medium-range air defence against a range of aerial threats. In addition, the Council cleared the Very Short Range Air Defence System, equipped with multi-spectral sensing technology, which the Ministry said would improve resilience against countermeasures and strengthen overall air defence capability.
Two further approvals for the Army focus on survivability and offensive electronic warfare capacity. The Active Protection System for tanks is expected to improve the defensive mechanisms and survivability of armoured vehicles on the battlefield. The Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System, meanwhile, is intended to provide enhanced electronic warfare capability, combining greater lethality with survivability in what the Ministry described as a cost-effective manner.
Navy and Air Force Approvals Focus on Surveillance and Maritime Denial
The Indian Navy received clearance for three separate proposals under this round of approvals. The Multi Influence Ground Mine, or MIGM, was approved to enhance the Navy's capability to deny freedom of manoeuvre to adversary vessels in contested waters. The Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System, equipped with advanced sensors, was also cleared, with the Ministry stating that it would improve maritime surveillance and situational awareness for naval operations.
The third naval approval involves the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility for electric propulsion systems. This facility is intended to support the development and validation of motors and associated propulsion systems used across naval platforms, addressing a long-standing requirement for indigenous testing infrastructure rather than relying on facilities abroad.
For the Indian Air Force, the Council approved the procurement of a Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite system, referred to as FW-HAPS, along with other associated proposals. According to the Ministry, this platform is designed to deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability, in addition to telecommunications and remote sensing functions. High-altitude pseudo satellites function at the edge of the stratosphere and are increasingly viewed by defence planners as a cost-efficient alternative to conventional satellites for sustained monitoring over extended periods.
Understanding the Procurement Framework Behind the Approval
The Defence Acquisition Council operates under the procedural framework laid out in the Defence Acquisition Procedure, the governing policy document that regulates capital procurement for the Indian armed forces. Under this framework, the grant of Acceptance of Necessity is a mandatory preliminary requirement before any Request for Proposal can be issued to prospective vendors. It does not, by itself, constitute a binding contract or financial commitment; rather, it authorises the Ministry of Defence and the respective service headquarters to proceed with the next stages of the acquisition process, which typically include technical evaluation, field trials, commercial negotiations and, eventually, contract finalisation.
This layered structure has been in place in various forms since the early 2000s and was most recently updated through the Defence Acquisition Procedure of 2020, which places emphasis on indigenous design, development and manufacturing under the government's broader self-reliance initiatives in the defence sector. Proposals cleared through the AoN stage are categorised based on the extent of indigenous content required, with preference generally given to categories that prioritise domestic design and manufacturing over direct imports.
It is worth noting that this is not the first large-scale clearance by the Council this year. In March 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council had accorded Acceptance of Necessity to eight capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 54,000 crore, covering items such as engine upgrades for T-90 tanks, additional Varunastra torpedoes for the Navy, and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft systems for the Air Force. Thursday's approval follows a similar pattern of periodic, high-value clearances aimed at addressing capability gaps identified by the respective service headquarters.
The financial figures associated with these approvals represent estimated costs at the AoN stage and are subject to revision during subsequent negotiation and contracting phases, which can span several years depending on the complexity of the platform and the number of vendors involved. The Ministry of Defence has not released a specific timeline for the issuance of Requests for Proposals connected to Thursday's clearances, nor has it disclosed the identity of prospective vendors for the various systems at this stage.
The approvals come amid a sustained emphasis on strengthening India's air defence and counter-drone capabilities, an area that has drawn particular attention from defence planners in recent years given the increasing role of unmanned systems in contemporary military engagements. The inclusion of multiple anti-drone and electronic warfare systems across all three approvals for the Army reflects this continuing focus. Further details regarding contract timelines, vendor selection and final procurement values are expected to be released by the Ministry of Defence as each proposal progresses through subsequent stages of the acquisition process.
