DAC Clears Rs 1.10 Lakh Crore Defence Procurement Proposals

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) met on 7 September 2026. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting. The council granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to several buying proposals of the three Services. AoN is the in-principle administrative clearance with which a defence purchase begins. The proposals together carry an estimated price of about Rs 1,10,000 crore.

What the Army will buy

The Army received clearance for six items. Recce vehicles for a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) battlefield head the list. These vehicles can find, identify, watch and mark ground that CBRN agents have contaminated. High Mobility Vehicles (HMV) were cleared to carry loads and troops over hard ground. Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers (MML) will lay mines quickly in difficult terrain. Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) were cleared for both the Army and the Air Force. Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System complete the list; they give fighting formations a way across obstacles.

Navy and Air Force

For the Navy the council cleared the Arudhra Radar and the design, development and later purchase of Marine Gas Turbines. A gas turbine drives a warship, and building it at home cuts the dependence on foreign sellers. For the Air Force the clearances cover fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters. The Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) will replace paper identity cards, passes and permits with one smart card system that every base can read.

The Indian industry share

About 98 per cent of the value cleared in this round is to be bought from Indian industry. That share is the number to carry into the examination hall, because it shows how far self-reliance has moved inside the defence purchase system.