DAC clears indigenous purchases worth over Rs 54,000 crore, including T-90 tank engines, Varunastra torpedoes and AEWS systems

Government release 

Thursday, March 20, 2025

 

Under the chairmanship of Defence Ministry Rajnath Singh, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) on March 20, 2025,  to eight capital acquisition proposals amounting to over Rs 54,000 crore. 

 

AoN was accorded to the Indian Army for procurement of 1350 HP engines to replace the present 1000 HP engines. This will enhance the battlefield mobility of these tanks especially in high-altitude area by increasing the power to weight ratio.

 

For the Indian Navy, AoN was accorded for procurement of Varunastra heavy torpedoes. Varunastra torpedoes are indigenously-developed, ship-launched, anti-submarine torpedoes developed by Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL). Induction of additional quantities of this torpedo would enhance the Navy's capability against adversaries' submarine threats.

 

For the Indian Air Force, AoN was accorded for procurement of Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Aircraft Systems was accorded by DAC. 

 

AEW&C systems are capability enhancers which can change the complete spectrum of warfare and exponentially increase the combat potential of every other weapon system.

 

With 2025 being celebrated as ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence, the DAC also approved the guidelines for reducing the timelines at various stages of the capital acquisition process to make it faster, more effective and efficient.