IndianBureaucracy, New Delhi – DAC Clears Rs 84,560 Crore Capital Acquisition Proposals to Strengthen Armed Forces & Coast Guard
In a significant move towards achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance), the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, granted approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for capital acquisition proposals totaling Rs 84,560 crore. The approvals, given on February 16, 2024, underscore the commitment to source various equipment from Indian vendors.
Key Proposals Include:
- New Generation Anti-Tank Mines: AoN under Buy {Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)} category for seismic sensor-equipped mines with remote deactivation and additional safety features.
- Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munition System: AoN under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category to enhance operational efficiency in engaging Beyond Visual Line of Sight targets.
- Air Defence Tactical Control Radar: AoN under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category to strengthen air defence systems, focusing on detecting slow, small, and low-flying targets.
- Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance & Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft: AoN granted through Buy and Make category to bolster surveillance and interdiction capabilities of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
- Active Towed Array Sonar: AoN under Buy (Indian) category for Indian Naval Ships to detect adversary submarines at low frequencies and various depths.
- Heavy Weight Torpedoes: AoN for procurement to enhance attacking capabilities of Kalvari Class submarines.
- Flight Refueller Aircraft: AoN to improve operational capabilities and reach of the Indian Air Force.
- Software Defined Radios: AoN under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category for the Indian Coast Guard, ensuring high-speed communication with secure networking capability.
Promoting Start-Ups and MSMEs: To foster a conducive environment for defence start-ups and encourage the procurement of advanced technologies, DAC approved amendments in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. The changes focus on benchmarking, cost computation, payment schedule, and procurement quantity. This move aims to incentivize and support start-ups and MSMEs under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Technology Development Fund schemes, aligning with the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ethos.