India approves ₹52,000 crore defence procurement to boost AI, drones and missile systems

The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, gave in‑principle approval (Acceptance of Necessity) for defence proposals worth roughly ₹52,000 crore (about $5.46 billion). The package covers the Army, Navy and Air Force and includes anti‑drone electronic‑warfare system Akash Tarang, man‑portable anti‑tank guided missiles, medium‑range surface‑to‑air missiles, very short‑range air‑defence systems (V‑Shorads), active protection systems for tanks and jet‑based kamikaze drones. For the Navy, approvals were granted for multi‑influence ground mines, ship‑borne unmanned aerial systems and a land‑based testing facility for electric propulsion. The Air Force will acquire fixed‑wing high‑altitude pseudo‑satellites that provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunications and remote‑sensing capabilities. Rear Admiral Sudarshan Y. Shrikhande said, “Today, the threat from drones, missiles and other unmanned platform‑weapon combinations is increasing,” underscoring the push for AI‑enabled ISR and autonomous systems. The approvals are presented as part of India’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat drive to modernise the armed forces and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.