New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Wednesday accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth about Rs 3.60 lakh crore to strengthen the operational preparedness of the armed forces.

The approvals cover major procurements for the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), with a strong emphasis on indigenous manufacturing and self-reliance.

For the IAF, the DAC approved AoN for the procurement of Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) (Rafale), along with Combat Missiles and Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS). The MRFA acquisition is aimed at enhancing air dominance capabilities across the full spectrum of conflict and bolstering long-range offensive strike and deterrence capacity. A majority of the aircraft will be manufactured in India.

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The Combat Missiles are expected to enhance the IAF’s stand-off ground attack capability with deep strike precision, while AS-HAPS platforms will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), electronic intelligence, telecommunications and remote sensing support for military operations.

For the Indian Army, AoN was granted for the procurement of Anti-Tank Mines (Vibhav) and the overhaul of vehicle platforms of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs), T-72 tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (BMP-II). The Vibhav mines will function as anti-tank obstacle systems to delay the advance of enemy mechanised forces. The overhaul of armoured platforms is intended to extend their service life and ensure sustained operational readiness.

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The Indian Navy received AoN for the procurement of 04 MW Marine Gas Turbine-based Electric Power Generators and additional P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft. The induction of the power generators under the Make-I category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 is expected to reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers and enhance self-reliance in naval power generation systems.

The acquisition of P8I aircraft will significantly strengthen the Navy’s long-range anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and maritime strike capabilities.

For the Indian Coast Guard, AoN was accorded for the procurement of Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) systems for Dornier aircraft. The systems are expected to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities and improve operational effectiveness.