The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on September 7 granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for a range of acquisitions for the Army, Navy and Air Force. An AoN is an in-principle approval and does not mean contracts have already been signed or that the equipment is immediately entering service.
The composition of the package includes helicopters, high-mobility vehicles, battlefield engineering equipment, Arudhra radars, marine gas turbines, ground-based multi-purpose jammers and upgrades intended to strengthen fighter, transport and helicopter capabilities. Around 98 per cent of the approved procurement by value is expected to come from Indian industry.
Rajnath Singh described the domestic component as a commitment to building a stronger defence industrial base, saying approximately “98 per cent of procurements will be made from the Indian Industry.”
One of the most significant elements is the proposed enhancement of the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fleet. The Su-30MKI remains the backbone of India’s fighter fleet, with around 260 aircraft in service. The latest plan involves overhauling 40 aircraft and modifying them to fire Russia’s RVV-BD, the export version of the R-37M long-range air-to-air missile.
The R-37M is designed to engage targets at very long ranges. Modern air warfare is not limited to fighter-versus-fighter combat, as airborne early warning and control systems (AWACS), aerial refuellers and other high-value support aircraft can be critical to an adversary’s ability to conduct an air campaign.
The reported missile has a declared range of up to 200 km, weighs around 510 kg and carries a 60-kg warhead. Giving selected Su-30MKIs the ability to employ such a weapon would add a new dimension to India’s long-range air-combat capability.
The timing is also significant. The experience of Operation Sindoor in May 2025 has intensified attention on long-range weapons, air defence, electronic warfare and the ability to strike from stand-off distances. The Su-30MKI was among the aircraft employed during the operation, and the IAF has been pursuing upgrades to keep the ageing-but-powerful platform relevant for decades.
The Navy’s acquisition of Arudhra medium-power radars highlights another central aspect of modern warfare: information can be as important as firepower. The indigenously developed Arudhra systems are intended to replace existing Air Route Surveillance Radars at various naval air stations. Their role is to strengthen the Navy’s ability to detect and track activity in the airspace around its installations.
For a military operating across a vast coastline and increasingly focused on maritime security, the ability to build a reliable picture of the airspace is critical. Radar networks feed information into the wider surveillance and command architecture, allowing commanders to identify potential threats and respond faster.
This reflects a broader shift towards networked operations, where sensors, command systems, aircraft, ships and weapons need to work together rather than operate as isolated platforms.
Another strategically important element is the plan to design, develop and subsequently procure indigenous Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs) for the Navy.
Gas turbines are used as propulsion systems on warships. Developing them domestically is significant because propulsion can create a major vulnerability if a navy remains dependent on overseas suppliers for critical components, maintenance or upgrades. The Defence Ministry has specifically linked the indigenous MGT programme to reducing the Navy’s dependence on foreign vendors.
The project therefore extends beyond building another piece of military hardware. It is aimed at acquiring the technological ability to design, manufacture, maintain and eventually upgrade a critical component of a warship independently.
The Air Force package also includes Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers (GBMPJs). Unlike conventional weapons designed to physically destroy a target, electronic-warfare systems attempt to disrupt the systems that allow an adversary to detect, communicate and coordinate.
The ministry says the jammers will provide capabilities to counter adversary radars. This is increasingly important on a battlefield where radar, communications, data links and sensors can determine who sees the enemy first and who gets to act first.
The Army’s acquisitions point to similar priorities on the ground. CBRN reconnaissance vehicles will detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents.
High-mobility vehicles will improve movement and logistics in difficult terrain, while mine layers, trawl tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System are designed to help combat formations negotiate difficult terrain and obstacles.
The latest package indicates a military modernisation approach centred on range, sensors, electronic warfare, mobility, surveillance and industrial resilience, alongside the platforms India already possesses.
The Rs 1.1 lakh crore approval provides a snapshot of where India’s military planners believe the next war could be decided: in the air at long range, in the electromagnetic spectrum, through persistent surveillance and increasingly through the country’s own ability to build and sustain the technology needed to fight.
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