India's armed forces are set for one of their biggest equipment upgrades of the year. On Monday, October 26, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared capital acquisition proposals worth about Rs 2.12 lakh crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force, with roughly 82 per cent of the purchases to be made from Indian industry.
The list reads like a snapshot of how warfare has changed in recent years: tracked guns and helicopters sit alongside counter-drone systems, surveillance UAVs and long-range kamikaze drones.
What the DAC Approved
The approvals come as Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first formal step in India's defence procurement process. An AoN confirms that the forces need a particular capability and allows the ministry to move ahead with tenders, trials and negotiations. Contracts, suppliers and delivery schedules are finalised only later.
Indian Army
The Army received the longest list. It includes self-propelled tracked gun systems, high-mobility vehicles, light multi-role helicopters (LMRH), very short-range air defence systems, counter-unmanned aerial systems, surveillance UAVs, an integrated surveillance and strike system and a long-range kamikaze drone system. Together these cover artillery, mobility, air defence close to the front line and the fast-growing drone domain.
Indian Navy
For the Navy, the council cleared Active Offboard Decoy Systems (AODS), which are released from warships to lure incoming anti-ship missiles away from the vessel. Other major naval platforms were also approved, though their details have not been made public.
Indian Air Force
The Air Force will get helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and radars, including mobile X-band Doppler weather radars that will improve weather monitoring in forward areas, a key factor for flying operations in mountainous border regions.
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Meeting date | October 26, 2026 |
| Chaired by | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh |
| Total value | About Rs 2.12 lakh crore |
| Share from Indian industry | About 82 per cent |
| Type of approval | Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) |
| Army highlights | Tracked guns, LMRH, VSHORADS, counter-drone systems, kamikaze drones |
| Navy highlights | Active Offboard Decoy Systems, other major platforms |
| Air Force highlights | Helicopters, air defence systems, weapons, X-band weather radars |
Why the Drone Focus Matters
Recent conflicts around the world have shown how cheap drones can change a battlefield, both as eyes in the sky and as precision weapons. The approvals for surveillance UAVs, an integrated surveillance and strike system and long-range loitering munitions, often called kamikaze drones, signal that the Army wants to build this capability at scale. Equally important is the counter-drone equipment, which protects bases, convoys and border posts from hostile drones, a threat Indian forces have faced repeatedly along the western border.
Very short-range air defence systems serve a similar purpose, giving frontline units a last line of protection against low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones.
What It Means for India
The 82 per cent domestic share is the headline number for Indian industry. Public sector firms, private defence manufacturers and a growing group of drone and electronics startups stand to compete for these orders over the coming years. That means more factory work, more design jobs and a bigger supplier base for components such as sensors, engines and software.
For taxpayers, buying at home also keeps more of the defence budget circulating within the Indian economy and reduces dependence on foreign suppliers for spares during a crisis. The government has made self-reliance in defence a central goal, and large approvals like this one are how that policy turns into actual orders.
The decision follows a run of defence deals this month, including an order for anti-drone radars from Bharat Electronics and ongoing trials of Rafale Marine jets for the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
What Happens Next
An AoN is not a signed contract. Each proposal will now move through the procurement cycle: requests for proposals, technical evaluation, field trials, cost negotiation and, finally, approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security for larger deals. Some items may be fast-tracked if the forces see an urgent need, while others could take several years to reach the units.
Watch for the first tenders, especially for drones and counter-drone systems, where Indian companies have been building capacity quickly. The speed at which these approvals become contracts will show how quickly the forces can close their capability gaps.
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