Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council has granted Acceptance of Necessity to several procurement proposals totalling nearly Rs 52,000 crore, covering a wide range of indigenous and advanced defence equipment for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with a focus on air defence, drone warfare, surveillance, and unmanned systems.
What AoN Means and Why It Matters
The Acceptance of Necessity is the first step in India’s defence procurement process, giving principal approval for a procurement before it proceeds to request for proposals, commercial evaluation, and contract negotiations.
Indian Army’s New Capabilities
For the Army, AoN has been granted for the Akash Tarang anti-UAV electronic warfare system to defend against hostile drones, man-portable anti-tank guided missile systems to enhance infantry capability against armoured vehicles, medium-range surface-to-air missile weapon systems for air defence against multiple aerial targets, very short-range air defence systems equipped with multi-spectral sensors for greater resilience against enemy countermeasures, active protection systems for tanks to defend against anti-tank missiles, and jet-based kamikaze drone systems for enhanced electronic warfare, lethality, and survivability at lower costs.
Indian Navy Gets Sea-Denial and Surveillance Boost
The Navy has received AoN for multi-influence ground mines to develop sea-denial capabilities and restrict adversary movement in Indian waters, naval shipborne unmanned aerial systems to enhance maritime surveillance and situational awareness, and a land-based testing facility for electric propulsion systems to support development of future naval vessels.
Air Force to Get High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite
The Indian Air Force has been approved for a fixed-wing high-altitude pseudo satellite platform along with other proposals, which will significantly enhance ISR, telecommunications, and remote sensing capabilities over extended periods.
