India has cleared a massive ₹1,10,000 crore defence acquisition plan, with nearly 98% of procurements sourced from Indian industry.

The Army will receive new vehicles, helicopters, and bridging systems, the Navy will get advanced radars and indigenous marine gas turbines, while the Air Force will induct jammers and secure access systems. This marks one of the largest indigenous procurement pushes under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved proposals on 7 September. The Acceptance of Necessity granted covers capital acquisitions across all three services, ensuring a broad enhancement of operational capabilities.

The emphasis on sourcing from Indian industry reflects a strategic shift towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

For the Indian Army, approvals include Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Recce Vehicles. These will detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated with hazardous agents, strengthening battlefield survivability in unconventional warfare scenarios.

High Mobility Vehicles have also been sanctioned to improve logistics support and mobility in challenging terrain, ensuring rapid deployment and supply chain resilience.

Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers will provide fast and responsive mine-laying capability in difficult terrain, enhancing defensive operations.

Advanced Light Helicopters will be inducted for complex missions across varied terrains, serving both the Army and the Air Force. Trawl Tanks and Sarvatra Bridge Systems will provide composite crossings to fighting formations, ensuring manoeuvre capability in diverse operational environments.

For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved procurement of Arudhra Radars. These will replace ageing Air Route Surveillance Radars at Naval Air Stations, significantly improving maritime airspace monitoring. 

The design, development and procurement of Marine Gas Turbines has also been sanctioned. This indigenous propulsion system will reduce dependence on foreign vendors, marking a critical step in strengthening warship self-reliance.

For the Indian Air Force, proposals were cleared to enhance the war-fighting capability of fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters.

Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers will be inducted to provide effective jamming against adversary radars, bolstering electronic warfare capabilities.

The Defence Forces Secure Access Card system will replace paper-based identity cards, passes and permits with an interoperable RFID-based smart card system, enhancing security across defence establishments.

This acquisition plan comes alongside other modernisation efforts, including the modification of Su-30MKI jets to carry 300-km Russian air-to-air missiles, and indigenous testing of systems like the Khagantak-243 weapon. Together, these initiatives reflect India’s determination to strengthen its military posture while reducing import dependence.

The scale of the approvals highlights a comprehensive approach to capability development. By simultaneously targeting electronic warfare, CBRN defence, battlefield mobility, mine warfare, bridging systems, naval propulsion and air surveillance, the plan ensures balanced modernisation across land, sea and air domains.

The focus on indigenous production also reinforces India’s defence industrial base, creating opportunities for domestic manufacturers and Start-Ups.

This ₹1,10,000 crore package is not just about new equipment but about strategic autonomy. It strengthens India’s ability to respond to evolving threats while embedding resilience in its defence supply chains. The approvals underscore a long-term vision of building a technologically advanced, self-reliant military force.

Agencies