DAC gives nod to capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore

DAC's procurement plans: Under the chairmanship of Union Defence Ministry Rajnath Singh, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 1,44,716 crore, according to an official announcement.

Under this plan, the government will procure Future Ready Combat Vehicles, Air Defence Fire Control Radars, Dornier-228 aircraft, and Next Generation Fast Patrol & Offshore Patrol Vessels.

“For modernisation of the tank fleet of the Indian Army, the proposal for procurement of Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) has been cleared. The FRCV will be a futuristic Main Battle Tank with superior mobility, all terrain ability, multilayered protections, precision & lethal fires over and real-time situational awareness,”  the official announcement stated.

According to the announcement, 99 per cent of the approved proposals are sourced from indigenous suppliers, aligning with the government's focus on self-reliance under the Buy (Indian) and Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) categories.

Among the key acquisitions, the Indian Army is set to modernise its tank fleet with the procurement of Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs). These state-of-the-art Main Battle Tanks will be equipped with advanced mobility, all-terrain capability, multi-layered protection, precision weaponry, and real-time situational awareness, positioning the Army to effectively counter future threats.

The DAC has also greenlit the acquisition of Air Defence Fire Control Radars. These radars are designed to detect and track aerial targets while providing accurate firing solutions, enhancing the Army's air defence capabilities. Additionally, the council has approved the procurement of Forward Repair Teams (Tracked), which will enable in-situ repairs during mechanised operations, thanks to their cross-country mobility. 

The Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, a key player in India's defence manufacturing, will design and develop this equipment, intended for both mechanised Infantry Battalions and Armoured Regiments.