India’s Military Gets Rs 80,000 Cr Upgrade With Tanks, Drones, Missiles

The Defence Acquisition Council, the apex body for capital procurement decisions in the Ministry of Defence, has accorded acceptance of necessity for a series of high-value proposals aggregating close to Rs 80,000 crore, representing one of the most substantial single-day clearances aimed at comprehensively upgrading legacy platforms while simultaneously inducting cutting-edge technologies to elevate the operational capabilities of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Prominent among the approvals are extensive overhaul programmes for the T-90 main battle tanks, the backbone of India's armoured forces, alongside mid-life upgrade packages for the versatile Mi-17 helicopter fleet, initiatives that will significantly enhance survivability, firepower, avionics, and overall service life, ensuring these critical assets remain combat-effective against evolving battlefield threats for decades to come.

In a clear nod to contemporary warfare doctrines, the Council has greenlit the procurement of advanced loitering munitions, commonly known as suicide drones, which provide precision strike options with real-time surveillance, while also sanctioning amendments to the Requests for Proposal for multi-role tanker transports serving as air-to-air refuellers and next-generation Airborne Warning and Control Systems, both recognised as indispensable force multipliers that extend aerial reach, endurance, and command-and-control superiority.

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To fortify India's multi-layered air and missile defence architecture, dedicated Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile systems have been cleared for induction into the Indian Navy's surface combatants and the Indian Air Force's ground-based units, offering robust countermeasures against a spectrum of aerial threats including aircraft, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions across land and maritime environments.

These sweeping approvals form part of an accelerated modernisation drive amid persistent regional security challenges, reinforced by the recent extension of emergency procurement powers until January 15, 2026, facilitating rapid acquisition of urgent requirements such as Javelin anti-tank missiles and Excalibur artillery rounds from the United States, with stringent penalties imposed on vendors for delays to guarantee timely delivery and operational preparedness.

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