Ministry of Defence Clears Military Projects Worth ₹1.05 Lakh Crore in Strategic Boost After Operation Sindoor

    image credit : DRDO

In a landmark decision that underscores India's strategic posturing post-Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has cleared capital acquisition proposals worth an estimated ₹1.05 lakh crore. These approvals mark a significant leap toward bolstering the country’s military preparedness and self-reliance in defence production.

This was the first meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh following Operation Sindoor. The session approved 10 capital acquisition proposals across various domains of warfare—ranging from missile systems and naval platforms to electronic warfare and tri-services logistics infrastructure.

A Pan-Forces Modernisation Drive

The DAC’s recent approvals address urgent capability gaps across all three services—Army, Navy, and Air Force—and are part of the broader vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in defence. The acquisitions fall under the ‘Acceptance of Necessity’ (AoN) category, which marks the initial stage in India’s structured defence procurement process.

Each project was selected based on strategic necessity, with the duration of procurement varying depending on operational urgency, indigenous production timelines, and integration needs. The MoD emphasized that all projects have been cleared under the ‘Buy (Indian – IDDM)’ category, which ensures that the platforms will be Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDDM) in India.

Missile Shield Boost: QRSAM Systems for Army Air Defence

Among the most significant allocations is for the procurement of the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Army Air Defence is expected to receive systems worth over ₹30,000 crore.

Designed to provide mobile air defence against aerial threats including enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones, QRSAM boasts a 30-kilometre operational range. What sets it apart is its “shoot-and-scoot” capability—the system can engage targets while on the move and rapidly reposition itself to avoid counter-attacks.

This system will be critical in providing air cover to advancing ground forces and is equipped with state-of-the-art radars for target detection, tracking, and engagement.

Navy Secures Major Share: MCMVs, Moored Mines & Naval Systems

The Indian Navy emerged as a major beneficiary of the defence approvals. Among the key items cleared were:

• Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs): These are specialised vessels designed to detect, classify, and neutralise naval mines—ensuring safe passage for warships and merchant vessels alike.

• Moored Mines: These are underwater explosive devices tethered to the seabed, meant to deny enemy access to sensitive maritime zones. DRDO’s Processor-Based Moored Mine (PBMM) was specifically approved. These mines detect and engage targets using acoustic and pressure sensor triggers.

• Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM): A naval artillery system that can target both airborne and surface threats at high speed and with great precision.

• Submersible Autonomous Vessels (SAVs): These unmanned underwater systems will enhance the Navy’s undersea surveillance, mine detection, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities while minimizing risk to human life.

Army Upgrades: Electronic Warfare & Recovery Vehicles

For the Indian Army, two key acquisitions stand out:

• Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs): These vehicles play a crucial battlefield role by retrieving and repairing damaged tanks and armoured vehicles. Their inclusion ensures greater combat sustainability and operational mobility.

• Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems: In modern warfare, information dominance is critical. The new EW systems will allow the Army to detect, jam, or spoof hostile radar and communication networks, while protecting its own. This is seen as a game-changer in any potential high-tech conflict environment.

Tri-Services Logistics Platform: Towards Jointness and Efficiency

One of the most transformative projects cleared is the Integrated Common Inventory Management System (ICIMS). It is a unified logistics platform that will manage the inventory, distribution, and supply chain of critical military assets across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

This move reflects a decisive shift toward jointness and interoperability, long advocated within India’s security apparatus. The ICIMS is expected to drastically cut logistical redundancies and improve real-time readiness for operational deployment.

Focus on Indigenous Capability Development

Each of these systems is being procured under the ‘Buy (Indian – IDDM)’ category as per the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. This reflects the government’s focus on building a robust defence industrial base that reduces dependency on foreign vendors.

Private and public sector firms within India are expected to lead these projects, with DRDO acting as a key technological enabler. This policy ensures not just national security, but also boosts local employment, research and development, and export potential in the defence sector.

Strategic Context: Post-Operation Sindoor Preparedness

The timing of these clearances—coming just after Operation Sindoor, a multi-pronged conflict where India faced simultaneous challenges on more than one front—signals a strong message of strategic resolve. The approvals are clearly aimed at enhancing rapid response capabilities, maritime domain awareness, and electronic dominance.

The Ministry’s firm push toward indigenisation also ensures that these capabilities are sustainable and not vulnerable to supply chain disruptions in times of war.

Conclusion: A Future-Ready Indian Military

The clearance of projects worth ₹1.05 lakh crore signifies a decisive step in preparing India’s armed forces for the multi-domain battlespace of the future. Whether it’s in the high-altitude Himalayan borders, the Indo-Pacific maritime zones, or the realm of electronic and cyber warfare, these acquisitions are foundational.

India is not just buying weapons; it is building a strategic ecosystem of innovation, jointness, and resilience. With systems like QRSAM, MCMVs, EW platforms, and ICIMS, the Indian military is transforming into a future-ready force, capable of defending national interests in an increasingly hostile and unpredictable global environment.

Written by Defence Expert