On Tuesday, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved five major capital acquisition proposals worth ₹21,772 crore. 

The proposals include water jet fast attack craft, fast interceptor craft, Electronic Warfare Suites (EWS), next-generation radar warning receivers, and Advanced Light Helicopters for coastal surveillance. “The DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of 31 New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts for the Indian Navy. These are designed to perform the task of low-intensity maritime operations, surveillance, patrol, and search and rescue operations close to the coast,” a Defence Ministry statement said. 

These ships will also play a key role in anti-piracy missions, especially near our island territories, the statement mentioned. The DAC also approved the procurement of 120 Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC-1). These vessels are versatile and can perform several tasks, such as escorting important assets like Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates, and Submarines for coastal defence.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procuring an Electronic Warfare Suite (EWS) for the Su-30 MKI aircraft. This suite includes External Airborne Self-Protection Jammer pods, a Next Generation Radar Warning Receiver and related equipment. It will boost the Su-30 MKI's ability to perform missions by protecting it from enemy radars and air defence systems.