The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, convenes on Thursday to evaluate major defence acquisitions. Key items include the Rs 3.25 lakh crore procurement of 114 Rafale combat aircraft, Scalp cruise missiles, additional P-8I surveillance planes, Sudarshan S-400 air defence missiles, and an indigenous DRDO anti-tank mine project.
Boosting Air Power with Rafale Jets and Scalp Missiles
India advances plans to acquire 114 multirole Rafale fighter jets from France. This landmark deal, dubbed the largest in national history, exceeds prior military contracts by at least five times in scale. The Air Force also seeks a significant batch of Scalp cruise missiles to integrate with its current Rafale squadrons.
Maritime Patrol and Advanced Air Defence
The council examines a proposal for six more P-8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the United States, with an estimated value of USD 3 billion. Approval is anticipated for a tender to acquire substantial quantities of missiles for the Sudarshan S-400 system, proven effective in multiple strikes on Pakistan Air Force assets during Operation Sindoor. The tender targets Russian government entities under fresh intergovernmental agreements.
Indigenous Innovation and Army Upgrades
A prominent agenda item involves clearing the purchase of approximately 100,000 Vibhav point-attack anti-tank mines, developed domestically by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Discussions extend to several initiatives for modernising the Indian Army’s armoured vehicle inventory.
