Defence ministry approves arms procurement proposals worth Rs 28,732 cr

Highlights

• The defence ministry on Tuesday approved the procurement of military equipment and weapons worth Rs 28,000 crore including swarm drones, carbines and bulletproof jackets.

• The procurement proposals were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

• ”The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals of the armed forces amounting to Rs 28,732 crore was accorded by the DAC,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

• The approval of the new procurement proposals came amid India’s over two-year-long border row with China in eastern Ladakh.

• The ministry said approval to procure four lakh close-quarter battle carbines was granted to combat the ”current complex paradigm of conventional and hybrid warfare”.

• “This is set to provide a major impetus to the small arms manufacturing industry in India and enhancing AtmaNirbharta (self-reliance) in small arms,” the ministry said.

• ”Considering the demand of enhanced protection against the threat of enemy snipers to our troops deployed along the Line of Control, and in close combat operations in counter-terrorism scenario, the DAC accorded AoN for bulletproof jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection,” it said.