Defence Ministry Clears ₹79,000 Crore Weapon Acquisition Proposals

India's Ministry of Defence has approved defence procurement proposals worth Rs 79,000 crore, focusing on domestically developed long-range weapons and anti-drone systems to bolster the armed forces' capabilities. Key acquisitions include extended-range Astra air - to - air missiles for the Air Force, capable of engaging enemy aircraft from greater distances, and guided Pinaka rocket systems for the Army to precisely target objectives within borders. Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, which necessitated cross - border strikes, the approvals also cover loitering munitions for the Army to hit small targets accurately, integrated drone detection and interdiction systems (Mk-II) to counter drone threats, and low - altitude lightweight radars for tracking low - flying drones. For the Navy, two additional MQ - 9B Sea Guardian drones are to be leased from the US for enhanced maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean region, along with high-frequency software-defined radios (HF SDRs).

These procurements aim to address vulnerabilities exposed in Operation Sindoor against Chinese - made Pakistani weapons, enhancing standoff capabilities for all three services. The Air Force will also receive SPICE - 1000 long - range guidance systems and automatic takeoff and landing recording systems, enabling precise strikes on distant targets. Officials emphasize that these indigenous systems will significantly strengthen border security, asset protection, and intelligence gathering, while the Navy's drone lease will improve long - endurance monitoring and covert operations. Overall, the decisions reflect a strategic push towards self-reliance in defence technology and rapid response to evolving threats.