India has approved major defence acquisition proposals worth ₹790 billion (about $8.78 billion) to strengthen the operational capabilities of its armed forces, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday. The clearances were granted by the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The approved procurements include advanced radars, secure communication radios, automatic take-off and landing recording systems, and other critical equipment for the Army, Navy and Air Force. The acquisitions are aimed at enhancing surveillance, mobility, network-centric warfare capabilities and overall operational readiness across all three services.
The move comes as India continues to modernise its military amid evolving regional and global security challenges. India maintains one of the world’s largest armed forces, with over 1.4 million active personnel, a sizeable reserve component, and growing indigenous defence manufacturing capacity under the “Make in India” initiative.
India is also recognised as a nuclear-armed state. According to estimates by international research organisations, the country possesses roughly 160–170 nuclear warheads, supported by a credible minimum deterrence doctrine and a nuclear triad comprising land-based missiles, aircraft and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. New Delhi maintains a declared policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons.
Officials said the latest procurement approvals reflect the government’s continued focus on strengthening national defence, improving technological self-reliance, and ensuring that the armed forces remain equipped to address both conventional and emerging security threats.
