India has approved the in-principle purchase of military equipment worth approximately $5.46 billion (around ₹520 billion) as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen national defense capabilities. The decision was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), India’s highest body for approving major defense procurements, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The approved package includes a wide range of advanced military systems for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. For the Army, the procurement covers anti-drone systems, electronic warfare equipment, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, portable anti-tank missiles and jet-based kamikaze drone systems. These systems are intended to improve battlefield awareness and strengthen India’s ability to counter modern security threats.
The Indian Navy will receive new naval mines, shipborne drones and a testing facility aimed at improving maritime surveillance and coastal defense. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has been cleared to acquire a high-altitude unmanned aircraft platform for intelligence gathering, remote sensing and reconnaissance missions.
Indian officials said the purchases are part of the country’s long-term defense modernization strategy. However, the government has not announced a timeline for the acquisitions or clarified whether the equipment will be imported or produced domestically. Over the past decade, India has worked to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers by expanding domestic defense manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative while also purchasing equipment from countries such as France and the United States.
Defense analysts say the latest approval reflects India’s focus on improving military readiness amid evolving regional security challenges. The country currently has an annual defense budget of about $85 billion, and officials continue to invest heavily in modern weapons, surveillance systems and advanced technologies to strengthen the capabilities of all three armed services.
