Centre gives nod to defence proposals worth ₹1.44 lakh cr.

Sub: Sci

Sec: Defence

Context:

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the preliminary step of the long procurement process, for 10 capital acquisition proposals amounting to ₹1,44,716 crore.
Of the total cost, 99% is from indigenous sources under Buy (Indian) and Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) categories of the defence acquisition procedure, the Ministry said.

What are the proposals for?

Sevenstealth frigates under Project-17B ( a class of planned stealth to be built for the Indian Navy (IN).
Future-ready combat vehicles (FRCV) for the Army as a replacement for the main battle tanks
Air defence fire control radars (FCR)
Dornier-228 aircraft
Next generation fast patrol and offshore patrol vessels.

About Defence Acquisition Council:

The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.
It was formed, after the Group of Ministers’ recommendations on ‘Reforming the National Security System’, in 2001, post Kargil War (1999).
The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council.
The objective of the Defence Acquisition Council is to ensure expeditious procurement of the approved requirements of the Armed Forces in terms of capabilities sought, and time frame prescribed, by optimally utilizing the allocated budgetary resources.