• India
  • Jul 27

Explainer / Defence Acquisition Council

The defence ministry approved the procurement of military equipment and weapons worth Rs 28,732 crore to bolster the overall combat prowess of the Armed Forces along the northern and western borders.

The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals of the Armed Forces amounting to Rs 28,732 crore were accorded by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

What is the role of the Defence Acquisition Council?

• Pursuant to the recommendations made by the group of ministers on reforming the national security system in February 2001, a separate, dedicated structure for defence procurement was set up.

• In continuation of its efforts to streamline defence procurement procedures and to reduce timelines so as to ensure timely delivery of equipment to the armed forces, various measures to simplify the defence procurement procedure have been undertaken.

• A Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) was created as an overarching structure with the defence minister as its chairman.

• The DAC is the highest decision-making body of the defence ministry on procurement.

• The defence minister is the chairman of DAC. Its members include Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force.

• The main objective of the DAC 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.

Its functions include: 

• Give in principle approval of a 15 years Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) for defence forces.

• Accord of acceptance of necessity to acquisition proposals. 

• Categorisation of the acquisition proposals relating to ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’ and ‘Make’. 

• Look into issues relating to single vendor clearance. 

• Take decisions regarding ‘offset’ provisions in respect of acquisition proposals above Rs 300 crore.

• Take decisions regarding Transfer of Technology under the ‘Buy & Make’ category of acquisition proposals. 

• Field trial evaluation.

Proposals approved in the DAC meeting

• Among the proposals approved by DAC in the meeting are three proposals of the Indian Army. The total value of these three proposals is Rs 8,599 crore. Guided Extended Range Rocket Ammunition has a range of 75 km with accuracy of 40 meters. The Aerial Denial Munition Type I Rocket Ammunition contains dual purpose sub-munitions capable of neutralising both tanks and armoured personnel carriers as well as B vehicle entrenched troops. The Infantry Combat Vehicle-Command is equipped with technology to collect, disseminate, share and present real time information to commanders to facilitate quick decision making for execution of tasks.

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

• Considering the demand for 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.

• In the recent conflicts across the world, drone technology proved to be a force multiplier in military operations. Accordingly, to augment the Indian Army’s capability in modern warfare, AoN for procurement of autonomous surveillance and armed drone swarms has been accorded by the DAC under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.

• The DAC has also approved the Navy’s proposal to procure an upgraded 1,250-KW capacity marine gas turbine generator for power generation application onboard the Kolkata class of ships through the Indian industry. This will give a major boost to the indigenous manufacturing of gas turbine generators.

• In order to enhance the security in the coastal region of our Country, DAC also approved the proposal of procurement of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) with 60 per cent indigenous content.

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