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India cleared one of its biggest-ever defence shopping lists.
What’s buzzin’: the Defence Acquisition Council has approved proposals worth ₹2.38 lakh crore, covering everything from air defence systems to drones, artillery, and communication tech across the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
With this, total clearances this financial year now stand at ₹6.73 lakh crore across 55 proposals.
What’s in the cart: for the Army, new air defence systems, Dhanush artillery guns, advanced surveillance, and armour-piercing ammunition.
The Air Force is set to get strike drones, upgraded Su-30 engines, S-400 systems, and new transport aircraft to replace ageing fleets. The Coast Guard isn’t left out either. It will get heavy-duty air cushion vehicles for high-speed coastal patrol, rescue missions, and surveillance.
Also in play: separately, India also signed a ₹445 crore deal with Russia to buy Tunguska air defence missile systems for the Army, and a ₹413 crore deal with Boeing India for maintenance of Navy P-8I aircraft.
The Tunguska systems will strengthen India’s air defence by better handling threats like drones, aircraft, and cruise missiles.
Why now: this comes at a time when tensions in West Asia are rising, making defence preparedness more urgent. At the same time, India is upgrading its largely old, Soviet-era equipment and diversifying where it buys from.
