India Approves $6.3 Billion Defence Purchase to Strengthen Military

India has given in-principle approval for the purchase of military equipment worth around $6.3 billion (520 billion rupees) to strengthen the country's defence capabilities. The decision was approved on Friday by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the government's top defence procurement body.

According to an official government statement, the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by the Defence Minister and comprising senior military officers, approved the proposed acquisitions. The estimated value of the procurement package is about 520 billion rupees ($6.3 billion).

The government has not announced the timeline for the purchases. It also did not specify whether the equipment will be imported or manufactured within India.

Wide Range of Military Equipment Approved

The approved defence package includes several advanced military systems for the Indian Army, including:

• Anti-drone systems
• Electronic warfare systems
• Medium-range surface-to-air missiles
• Portable anti-tank missiles
• Jet Based Kamikaze Drone System

These acquisitions are aimed at improving the army's operational readiness and defence capabilities.

Navy and Air Force to Get New Capabilities

The Defence Acquisition Council also approved the procurement of new equipment for the Indian Navy. This includes naval mines, shipborne drones and a testing facility designed to strengthen maritime defence and improve surveillance capabilities.

For the Indian Air Force, India plans to acquire a high-altitude unmanned aircraft platform that will be used for intelligence gathering and remote sensing missions.

Focus on Defence Modernisation

Over the past decade, India has been working to reduce its dependence on Russia, which has traditionally been its largest supplier of military equipment. At the same time, New Delhi has expanded defence partnerships with countries such as the United States and France, while also increasing domestic defence production.

India's current defence budget stands at $85 billion.

The need to strengthen military capabilities gained further attention after the four-day conflict with Pakistan last year, which highlighted the importance of upgrading defence systems.

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India is also accelerating the modernisation of its navy as it closely watches China's growing presence in key shipping routes across the Indian Ocean.

Recent Defence Procurement Efforts

In December, New Delhi began ordering at least 75 ships and submarines, with most of the vessels expected to be built domestically.

Earlier this year, Indian authorities also approved the purchase of $39 billion worth of defence equipment, including Rafale fighter jets from France, as part of the country's broader military modernisation programme.