Delhi/Hyderabad, Mar 28: In a major push to strengthen India’s military capabilities, the government has approved defence procurement proposals worth ₹2.38 lakh crore, including additional S-400 air defence missile systems, medium transport aircraft, and other critical military platforms.
The approvals were granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the Defence Ministry’s highest decision-making body on procurement, during a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Major acquisitions for Indian Air Force
According to Defence Ministry sources, the approvals include procurement of five additional S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems and around 60 medium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), though the ministry did not officially confirm the exact numbers.
The transport aircraft are expected to replace the IAF’s ageing fleet of Soviet-origin AN-32 and IL-76 aircraft. Major global aerospace companies competing for the deal include:
- Lockheed Martin (C-130J Super Hercules)
- Embraer (KC-390)
- Airbus Defence and Space (A400M)
The IAF already operates 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Sources indicated that 12 aircraft may be purchased in fly-away condition, while the remaining 48 could be manufactured in India to promote domestic defence production.
S-400 systems to boost air defence
The decision to procure additional S-400 systems follows the operational success of the platform in recent military operations, where it demonstrated strong air defence capabilities.
India had earlier signed a $5 billion deal with Russia in October 2018 to procure five S-400 units despite concerns over possible US sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). So far, three squadrons have been delivered.
Officials indicated that the new order is likely to be treated as a follow-on procurement and may not face major geopolitical hurdles.
Other key defence approvals
The DAC also approved several other important proposals to strengthen the armed forces, including:
For the Indian Air Force:
- Remotely piloted strike aircraft
- Overhaul of Sukhoi-30 engine systems
For the Indian Army:
- Dhanush artillery gun systems
- Air defence tracked systems
- Armoured piercing tank ammunition
- High-capacity radio relay communication systems
- Runway-independent aerial surveillance systems
For the Indian Coast Guard:
- Heavy-duty air cushion vehicles for coastal patrol, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and logistics operations.
Record defence approvals
The Defence Ministry said that during the financial year 2025-26, the DAC approved 55 proposals worth ₹6.73 lakh crore, while capital procurement contracts worth ₹2.28 lakh crore covering 503 proposals have already been signed.
Officials described this as the highest level of approvals and contracts in any financial year so far, reflecting India’s growing focus on defence modernisation and operational readiness.
The ministry stated that these acquisitions will significantly enhance India’s strategic airlift capability, strengthen air defence preparedness, improve surveillance capacity, and boost combat effectiveness across the armed forces.
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