India Greenlights ₹52,000 Crore Custom Automation Arsenal

The approvals, granted through Acceptance of Necessity (AoN)—the first formal step in the procurement process—span the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with most systems designed for operations close to the battlefield . The centerpieces of this domestic tech push include the Akash Tarang anti-drone electronic warfare system, highly lethal Jet-Based Kamikaze Drones, and Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS) for the Air Force .

For the Indian Army, the DAC cleared the Akash Tarang Anti-UAV Electronic Warfare System to provide effective protection against hostile drones, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Weapon Systems, Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS) with multi-spectral sensing, Active Protection Systems for tanks, and the Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System for precision strikes with greater lethality . For the Indian Navy, approvals include the Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS), and a Land-Based Testing Facility for electric propulsion systems . For the Indian Air Force, the FW-HAPS will carry out persistent Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunication, and remote sensing .

The approvals come barely months after Operation Sindoor, during which India's air defence network was tested against a combination of drones, missiles, and rockets launched from Pakistan . Unlike previous procurements centred on expensive fighter aircraft, warships, or long-range missile systems, this package focuses overwhelmingly on the weapons most likely to be used in the opening hours of a future conflict . The decision also aligns with the government's broader plan to develop an integrated national air defence architecture known as Sudarshan Chakra—a nationwide defensive shield designed to counter everything from ballistic missiles and cruise missiles to drones and loitering munitions .

Instead of short-range patrols, the military is deploying pseudo-satellites directly into the upper atmosphere. Operating as persistent "orbital eyes" for weeks at a time, these solar-powered systems establish secure, self-healing communication networks and track regional threats without ever needing to refuel . The FW-HAPS flies at extremely high altitudes for durations extended to weeks, powered by solar energy, providing seamless intelligence gathering and long-range communications . The Akash Tarang system operates as a "soft-kill" electronic warfare platform, jamming drone frequencies and severing communication links without physically destroying the target—preserving more expensive interceptor missiles for larger threats .

July 2026 marks a definitive pivot in India's defence procurement strategy. The ₹52,000 crore DAC approval—covering anti-drone EW systems, jet-based kamikaze drones, and pseudo-satellites—signals New Delhi's rapid shift toward counter-UAV capabilities, layered air defence, and persistent surveillance following recent conflicts. The emphasis on indigenous procurement aligns with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with domestic manufacturers including Bharat Electronics, Bharat Dynamics, and Solar Industries positioned as key beneficiaries . The era of slow-moving defence procurement is ending. The era of automated, electronic, and space-based warfare is already here.